Radio and television is the biggest and most efficient arts promoter available. It can reach out to a wider audience, promoting artists works regardless of sex, race, religion or political affiliation.However, in Zimbabwe it is a different story altogether in an environment where there are only four partisan radio stations and one television broadcaster. This is exacerbated by the fact that the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Company (ZBC) TV reaches no more than 30 percent of the population, if that, and government radios are inaccessible to many in
remote areas.
Most Zimbabweans still live in almost total ignorance of events in their own country. Very few patrons in Chavhanga in Nyanga or Bikita, among other remote areas, are kept updated on the daily developments of their local superstars.
Musicians have been indirectly fleeced of their fortunes due to the inability of the country’s television and radio to reach out to the estimated 13 million nationals.
Think of the album or movie which flopped after it was banned from being aired on the local television or radio airwaves because the state-run broadcasters view it as politically incorrect.
It is time artists join the bandwagon and demand to be given the voice they rightfully deserve.
It is very disheartening that 31 years after independence and despite the subsequent enactment of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) in 2001, Zimbabwe continues to be choked by partisan propaganda churned out by ZBC.
The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRS) represents 11 community radio stations in the country, including Bulawayo based radio dialogue and Harare community radio, which would change the lives of thousands if not millions of artists if licensed. –
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