In what has been claimed to be the end of a 32 year old media monopoly by the government owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, (ZBC), a new so called privately owned radio station, Star Radio, began casting its waves across the country on Monday.
Star Radio which for more than 7 months after obtaining a license, battled to set up business, was awarded broadcast permission last year by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, although its arrival into the airwaves raised mixed feelings among supporters of privately owned media.
The company at a long arm’s length is allegedly controlled by the government of Zimbabwe while in public a claim is upheld that it is privately owned by the Zimpapers company that controls state print media newspapers, Herald, Chronicle. Zimpapers is controlled by the government.
Furthermore, the General Manager, Admire Taderera, is a long serving ZBC manager and journalist who has worked for the ZANU PF controlled media since the early 1980s. Critics have claimed that hiring Taderera demonstrates how ZANU PF will control the social and political programming at the station.
When it was licensed last year, Star Radio was then named as Zimbabwe Talk Radio, but a change of name to the former was later made though without an explanation.
The other radio station which obtained licensing is run by former ZBC, Al Jazeera and SABC TV news reporter Supa Mandiwanzira, named as ZiFM, is still to announce a launch date. Mandiwanzira on Monday however stated: “The launch is imminent. The latest would be August, but I expect us to begin broadcasts in July.”
Mandiwanzira said he would also stream online and was currently engaged in seeking authorisation from the broadcasting authority for that purpose.
The licensing for both radio stations has been criticised as an alleged plot by ZANU PF to falsely display the entry of a private broadcaster to Zimbabwe’s airspace.
A Bulawayo based activist, Zenzele Ndebele, was critical of the development as he stated:”May I remind Zimpapers radio that there is nothing independent about a state owned radio like them…”
Takato bhoyekana kudhara nema old nd new media station emuno.takuto enjoyer watching ma dics and satlite dish .so dont west yo energy by trying 2 juta us.rerayi nherera nemari idzi lord wil bles u
Saka maida kuti malicense acho apiwe ani,for your own information there is nothing like private or independent media in Zimbabwe,its a proven fact.You either belong to the people’s party, ZANU(PF) or any of the two MDCs sellouts. As for Senzele Ndebele, she should just shut up, we all know that she is just singing her master’s chorus. She is working for the same organisation where Gordon Moyo of MDC(T)used to work.Infact she took over from him when he was promoted to a minister.
Saka topaka Dailynews kuti muti its private. And yo def of pvt means MDC owned? Get a life. I have been listenin to Star FM inofaya just that it appears vadzora 90% yeZBC staff chete but l think and hope they will give us a diff menu this time.
We do not need false freedom of media any more…! Whats new to these muddy faced channels. We will resort to consoling stations elsewhere. May econet connect their machines to internet stations please.
What classifies a station to be private is its unbiased news and to a lesser extend the music content of tht channel regardless of the owners.anything over and above tht is something else.if the new radio channel(which looks like the old recycled station to me) prove to be biased like its cousin channels then it becomes another extension of the dead bc to me
Chiiko chamunokomburena apa inga Sulu, Tuku, Macheso na Roki vari kungoridzwa wanhi.
iyi inhepfenyuro yenyuka imi ma cio vana blamiki nachando chiridzai hondo yeminda pamadiro ajojina, isu hatimboiteereri hatidi kufonyorwa brain tovhura studio7.
Vhuraka chistudio 7 chako pakawairesi, shiriko yako haibate dzimwe nhepfenyuro. Son of a gay urimbwa muface wasatani.
Yet another waste of resources on this site. Iam begining to think that the site is a ‘sounding board’ for ‘you know who’. Otherwise how does one explain the proliferation of such trush day after day.Is it in the name of fredom of speech and association Mr/Ms Editor?
Ana pope itai zvechechi if yu have nothing to say.nobody is forcing anyone to speak out.if its too much for yu then tune to dead bc where yu cant comment on anything
Asingade Star Radio ngaaende anomama.Idiots ndoozvamunodzidziswa na Moregays Tsvactions izvozvo.Toita zvatinoda isu munyika medu.Imbwa dzevanhu.nxaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa