World Radio Day commemorated in style

CCOSA students holding the celebrations banner
(Photo by Rich Majoko) 

By Tinashe Makichi and Elia Ntali

Zimbabwe Radio Broadcasters joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Radio Day in the Harare CBD, this morning.

Minister Shamu in a speech read on his behalf by Director of Urban Communications Services in the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity, Retired Major General Anywhere Mutambudzi said there is need for media pluralism and a free airwave environment to promote parity in information dissemination.

“We are advocating for the freeing of the airwaves to promote parity in information dissemination, that is, we don’t want to starve the listeners,” said Mr Shamhu

He also said the Ministry of Information and Publicity is going to make sure that broadcasting licences are awarded to community radio stations and the operations of transmedia are at an advanced stage.

“I understand that the operations of transmedia are at an advanced stage. Therefore the ministry is working hard to ensure that broadcasting licences are awarded to community radio stations,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) representative Professor Luc reiterated that the objective of the World Radio Day is to raise awareness, among the public, of the importance of the radio in development and cultural interactions.

“The objectives of the day are to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio to development and cultural interaction." said Luc.

The event was graced by radio personalities from the country's five radio stations and trainee journalists from the Christian College Of Southern Africa (CCOSA) and Harare Polytechnic.