‘Govt committed to opening up airwaves’
INFORMATION, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe has reiterated Government’s commitment to open up the airwaves to enable Zimbabweans tell their own story.
Officially launching Masvingo’s first local commercial radio station, Hevoi FM, owned by AB Communications, Dr Mushohwe said the opening up of airwaves dovetailed with Government’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.
“To date, a total of eight local commercial radio stations are fully operational, with Hevoi as one of them. The Government’s objective is to ensure information reaches every Zimbabwean. We need to give Zimbabweans a platform to tell their stories, struggles, successes, aspirations and radio is an obvious choice,’’ he said.
“The opening of the airwaves weaves in well with the Zim-Asset, an economic blueprint whose objective among many is to provide an enabling environment for sustainable economic empowerment and social transformation to the people of Zimbabwe.”
Dr Mushohwe said radio remained Africa’s dominant mass medium.
He said the opening of local commercial radio stations would augment the work already being done by national radio, particularly to champion the promotion of national languages as enshrined in Constitution.
Dr Mushohwe said the coming on board of local commercial radio stations like Hevoi FM would be handy for small enterprises around the country that have traditionally not been sufficiently catered for by national radios.
“The SMEs sector employs thousands of our people, yet they may not be able to secure space on our airwaves.
“I am glad to say the local radio stations like Hevoi FM will be a solution to that problem and will act as SMEs transformative tool,’’ said Dr Mushohwe.
He challenged business in Masvingo to work closely with Hevoi FM.
Dr Mushohwe said historically, Masvingo was known for producing talented artistes like Paul Matavire and Hevoi FM provides a platform for the unveiling of more talent.
Dr Mushohwe paid tribute to AB Communications for investing at a time the economy was facing challenges spawned by the West’s illegal sanctions regime.