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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter

World Radio Day will be commemorated in Chiredzi this year to celebrate the licensing of one of the community radio stations, as the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa continues to open up the airwaves.

World Radio Day is commemorated on February 13 of every year across the world.

Speaking yesterday, Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana described this year’s commemoration as unique.

“This year’s Radio Day, which is commemorated every year, is a bit different for Zimbabwe,” he said. 

“This is the first time we are commemorating it at a community radio station, one of the very first community radio stations to ever come alive in Zimbabwe. So, we are commemorating this day in Chiredzi where they are running a station called Avuxeni FM which specialises in the Shangani language. It is a medium of communication for the Shangani community.”

The Second Republic has done a lot in opening up the media landscape, following the licensing of Star FM under Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited, ZiFM under AB Communications and campus radio stations at universities. 

Other radio stations have been opened in Bulawayo, Mutare and Masvingo.

“What we did not have were community radio stations, and for the first time since 2001, we have licensed and registered about 14 community radio stations,” said Mr Mangwana. 

“So, the one we are going to launch officially is the first one to go live in Zimbabwe since 2001 when our law allowed for community stations.”

In terms of funding, Mr Mangwana said Avuxeni FM was wholly funded by the Government through the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and Transmedia.

UNESCO was partnering the Government in funding other community radio stations, including the one to be launched in Chimanimani.

“There are some (community radio stations) coming from our major partner, UNESCO,” said Mr Mangwana.

“It gave us equipment to give a station to Chimanimani. Why Chimanimani: because it is our frontline when it comes to confronting climate change that comes from the sea. You may remember Cyclone Idai and a few days ago we were still talking about a new one, Cyclone Batsirai coming again from the sea.” 

World Radio Day was set aside by the United Nations to observe and mark the role and contribution of radio in human life. It was started in November 2011 and is celebrated globally by UN member countries on February 13. 

The national theme for the commemorations is, “Connecting Communities Through Radio”.