KEY POINTS
- Community radio stations promote diversity and heritage-based content.
- Over 10 community radio stations licensed to improve media access.
- Media reforms aim to increase freedom of expression and objective coverage.
The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said community radio stations are important for the development of Zimbabwe.
During his address to the NA, Dr. Muswere highlighted the importance of increasing diversity and locally relevant content through language with references to diversity policy and the heritage-based material as per the nation’s devolution policy.
Promoting local languages and heritage
In the view of Dr. Muswere, community radio stations play a vital role in enhancing community participation towards the development of Zimbabwe cultural practices.
Local language broadcasting affords the inhabitants within the assorted areas across the nation the chance to be part of the national dialogue and get the information relevant to them.
However, the community radio stations are more effective in the context of looking at the heritage aspects of the coverage. The government stance on inclusive media was also echoed by him and he summed it up and said: “ It also assist in the popularising of local languages.”
According to ZBC news, he said that the community radio stations are free to relay to their regions because the government does not impose on the kinds of messages that they air.
This is inline with Zimbabwe’s overall goal of reforming the media in the country with the goal of increasing the flow of information across the society, and at the same time, respect the cultural sensitive formations of the region.
Media reforms and licensing
Realizing the need for diversity and equal representation the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe has provided over 10 community radio licences across Zimbabwe.
These stations are democratization of the airways in Zimbabwe, the government wanting to make sure the people have a variety of media source.
These are important developments as far as national development goals are concerned since they afford people a chance to air their opinions, Muswere PhD stated.
The government of the country has let out licenses to a few private broadcasters adding more media channels to the country. The action has been received with approval by media organizations as a further step to promote freedom of expression and the public’s right to know.
Addressing concerns over media bias
In reply to the complaints that the national media is partisan in political issues, Dr. Muswere emphasized that the media’s responsibility is to disseminate information that promotes national development.
In his opinion, CR serves a vital surrogate for state media, providing possibly less partial coverage of the community and national issues.
The Minister pointed out that the government is still keen on ensuring that all media stations, the community and the national ones, are protected to operate without bias and intervene. Dr. Muswere is convinced that this requires commitment in an attempt to produce a populace that is more informed and active.
