Factsheet – Community Radio Stations in Zimbabwe. - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 9, 2022
How far has Zimbabwe gone in opening airwaves for community radios?
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) licensed six community radios in 2020 and eight in 2021. To date, a total of 14 community radio stations have been licensed across the country. BAZ also issued broadcasting licenses to tertiary institutions.
Avuxeni FM in Chiredzi commenced broadcasts in February 2022.
What is the purpose of community radio stations?
According to UNESCO, radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity and serve diverse communities offering a wide variety of programs.
According to a 2017 journal article, community broadcasting is a broadcasting service not for profit, owned and controlled by a particular community under an association, trust or foundation. In some instances, it can be owned by non-governmental organisations working in communities.
Community radio stations enable people to enjoy their right to access information concerning socio-economic development and other issues of concern within their communities. The community radio stations broadcast in languages spoken within the communities they serve
According to BAZ, the law gives the licensed entities 18 months to go on air from the date of licensing to give them time to ship equipment, put together human capital to run the station and put in place all logistical arrangements necessary to start operating.
Below is a list of community radio stations currently licensed in Zimbabwe.
Source: Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe
List of Tertiary Institutions awarded broadcasting licenses