Promise Tracker - Community radio licencing update

Promise Tracker – Community radio licencing update

On February 20, 2020, a day after ZimFact wrote that the government had missed its own deadline to licence community radio stations, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe invited applications for broadcasting licences.

The call is for 6 free to air national commercial television broadcasting services, 10 free to air community radio broadcasting services and 19 campus radio stations.

The campus radio applications are open to the following tertiary institutions: University of Zimbabwe, National University of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Women’s University in Africa, Bindura University of Science Education, Great Zimbabwe University, Africa University, Solusi University, Lupane State University, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Gwanda State University, Arrupe Jesuit University, Reformed Church, Christian College of Southern Africa, ZAOGA Ezekiel Guti University, Catholic University, Harare Polytechnic and Harare Institute of Technology.

Community Radio Licences

The call is for 10 community radio licences and these are for the following areas:

Rukotso and Susamoya
Empandeni, Maphisa, Ndolwane and Plumtree
Hwange and Victoria Falls
Chipinge, Chimanimani, Gwendingwe, Rusitu and Chibuwe
Chikombedzi, Chiredzi, Rutenga, Mahenye and Malipati
Manama and Legion
Binga, Kamativi, Kariba, Mapenga and Siabuwa
Beitbridge and Shashi
Mbembesi
Shamva and Alaska

Community Radio Initiatives in Place

Although BAZ only has 10 community radio licences up for grabs, there are way more than that number in initiatives that had been set up in preparation for licensing in the last 20 years. Many of these come under the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (Zacras) and include: