Zimpapers set to launch Diamond FM Mr Deketeke, Zimpapers Group CEO
Mr Deketeke

Mr Deketeke

Delta Ndou Staff Writer—
Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited will on Friday launch a commercial radio station in Mutare following its successful bid for a licence that was granted by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) last year. Zimpapers chief executive officer Mr Pikirayi Deketeke yesterday said the launch was in line with the company’s five-year plan to extend its dominance as a “content factory”, hence the launch was consistent with the vision.

“Diamond FM is our first regional commercial radio project, which is an addition to the national licence we have for Star FM, as we expand our footprint in the broadcasting arena,” said Mr Deketeke. He said Mutare was Manicaland province’s economic hub and was viable.

The Zimpapers chief said setting up the station in Mutare was a strategic decision that took into account that the company already had an established presence through its Manica Post weekly publication.

“Diamond FM is a station for the people of Mutare, broadcasting within a 40km radius and it is ninety-nine percent staffed by people from Mutare. We are giving Mutare a voice, and advertisers an audience,” said Mr Deketeke, adding that the station had been well-received since it started broadcasting in November last year.

Diamond FM mainly broadcasts in the various Manyika dialects, leveraging on its newly recruited pool of local and fresh radio voices who are led by veteran broadcaster Leander Kandiero, who is the station manager.

Mr Deketeke said the launch came at a time when the Manica Post premises were refurbished to accommodate both radio and newspaper operations. “We want to feed our content through a variety of platforms, and accommodating both print and radio in the same space allows us to create an innovative and converged hub to serve the people of Mutare.

“Through its website and mobile app, the station will also be available digitally to audiences in the Diaspora, particularly people from Mutare,” said Mr Deketeke.

He said the Diamond FM radio project was a business venture adding the company expected a return on investment. The launch of the station will be covered live on Zimpapers’ various digital platforms on Friday, while live streaming of the event will be available on the Diamond FM website.

The Diamond FM mobile app is available for download for android and iOS devices to allow listeners to tune into the station from anywhere in the country and across the globe.

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