IN less than 60 days Madziwa FM, the only community radio station licensed to operate in
the province, will go on air.
The radio station, according to the Government, has to be on air by 18 April this year.
According to the station’s vice-chairperson, Jackie Soko, much is now in place including the
studio equipment.
They are currently working on getting sound proof carpets.
“The studio has since been tubed for electrification. We are just left with a few items among
them window panes for our studio and the training of our citizen journalists, news anchors
and presenters which we think we will be able to do in March,” Soko said.
He hailed all the three chiefs in Shamva for their splendid efforts to see the station getting up,
especially Chief Madziwa who has since been appointed Madziwa FM patron.
Plans are also afoot to establish another stand-by studio in Shamva, resources permitting. The
Shamva studio, according to Soko, will cover up in times when they will be on load-shedding
in Madziwa.
The radio station will assist the community leadership to relay important messages to their
subjects, whilst to the business community it shall help business operators to market their
wares.
The radio station is also going to create employment in the Shamva community through its
citizen journalists’ desk.
According to Shivhoman, a local Zimdancehall artist based in Madziwa, the radio station
carries his gate pass to bigger and better promoters.
He said although the community has vast artistic talent, it is not visible because of the
centralisation of radio stations in bigger cities.
With more than 95 songs under his belt, the 30-year-old Madziwa dancehall artist said his
talent had been lacking exposure.
“I have hopes on this radio station. l am optimistic that it will help market my name as well as
sell my music.
“We can’t all migrate to Harare to get air play. l would like to thank the Government for this
local station. At least now we have our own platform on which we are guaranteed to receive
airplay as long as we have clean content good for listeners,” he said.
The artist is currently working on a 10-track album yet to be titled and expected to be
launched around April when the station goes on air.
His main problem was on finding a recording studio.
He appealed to music lovers and promoters to establish a state-of-the-art studio in the town in
order to assist many other youths like him, who are into music and have potential to produce
hits.
That prayer seems to be on its way to being answered, because according to Soko, Madziwa
FM is also going to establish a recording studio on its premises to cater for youths like
Shivhoman and others.
He said that Madziwa FM would adhere to 75 percent local content and called artists to get
ready for airplay.
