Umguza (New Ziana) – The Xhosa community of Mbembesi in Umguza district, east of Bulawayo, will be licenced to set up a community radio station, a top official has said.

The government is, through the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), licencing several community radio stations across the country, mainly targeting marginalised communities, to help empower them.

Engineer Mathias Chakanyuka, a senior BAZ official, told members of the Xhosa community during a recent sensitisation meeting that it had been given the green light to set up a community radio station, if residents approved.

He urged the community to embrace the initiative, saying it was among the luck few to be selected for licencing for community radio stations.

“Mbembesi community is one of the lucky communities in Zimbabwe that have been allocated a community radio station slot, and it’s up to the community to grab the chance and apply for the licence from BAZ and enjoy your own programmes in your language,” Eng Chakanyuka said.

He said signal carrier company, Transmedia will, if the community takes up the offer, install a transmitter with a signal radius of 40km to cover Umguza district.

Local councillor, Veti Tshuma welcomed the project, and urged the community to embrace the government initiative with open arms.

“As Mbembesi community, lets grab the chance and tender our application for consideration by BAZ and be counted in the annals of history through our peculiar radio station,” he said.

The community radio projects are part of government’s open society policy, in which it aims to give a voice to previously marginalised communities to be heard.
New Ziana