Broadcasters ready for open airwaves

Speaking during the Press Freedom Day commemorations in Harare, Radio VOP Director John Masuku said that exiled radio stations are ready to start reaching out to the people who are hitherto subjected to unending propaganda that is churned by ZBC.

Exiled stations are ready to broadcast. There is a state of readiness both within and outside the country, said Masuku.

Exiled Zimbabweans have been broadcasting on the shortwave band and on the internet and Masuku said that the three hours that the stations such as Radio VOP and Studio 7 have are very few.

With Zanu (PF) retaining the Rhodesian Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) the levels of manipulation and control at the state broadcaster have been intensive and presently ZBC resembles an extension of the partys publicity department where only pro-Zanu (PF) programmes are given space at the expense of the broad public spectrum.

“The broadcasting sector should be diverse because presently not all citizens are able to participate on ZBC. If more players are put in place then everyone should be able to participate. We are saying open the airwaves now and the question for us is, are we ready,” asked Masuku.

Masuku pointed to the example of the print media which was found flat-footed when the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) issued licenses. Many of the players took long to appear on the opened media landscape.

However, Masuku said that the broadcasting sector is more prepared than the print as human personnel have been going through intensive training and capacity building programmes.

Masuku further urged aspiring broadcasters not to repeat the mistake that was made by the print media and start canvassing for revenue base to ensure viability.

“Let us not make the mistake that was made by the print media. Its time we engage the financial sector,” said Masuku.

Zimbabwe on Tuesday joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day under the theme New Frontiers new Barriers that is commemorated every year on May 3.

But as the rest of the world moves forward in opening the media landscape, Harare has been loath to open up the broadcasting sector to community radio, commercial, and public radio stations.

The Minister of Information and Media, Information Publicity, Webster Shamu has promised community radio stations – but many doubt the governments commitment, especially in view of the intended ZBC community radio stations initiative.