HARARE Zimbabwes government should free the airwaves and licence community radios that could play a key role disseminating information on the environment including about climate change to rural communities, Swedish ambassador Sten Rylander has said. Rylander said community radios had a vital role to play promoting development especially in remote rural areas that are often left out because they are not easily accessible.
In a speech read on his behalf by an embassy official at a ceremony in Harare last week to honour reporters who excelled in covering environmental issues, Rylander said in addition to opening up the airwaves the government should also licence more newspapers in the country.
The government should urgently allow the operation of as many media houses as possible, Rylander said, also noting that media freedom was one of the key provisions of the global political (GPA) agreement that gave birth to the countrys unity government.
He added: A first step would be to open the airwaves for community radio stations . the absence of community-based radios hinders development and slows down poverty reduction efforts. Community radio stations could be playing a crucial role in terms of informing the ordinary people especially in rural and marginalised areas on environment issues.
There are no independent broadcasters in Zimbabwe and the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) runs the countrys only television and radio stations, all tightly controlled by President Robert Mugabes Zanu (PF) party even after formation of the unity government.
The new government has promised to open up the airwaves and licence more newspapers but has dragged its feet on appointing a new Zimbabwe Media Commission that should spearhead media reforms.
Post published in: World News