The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) has welcomed the steps by Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to license first three community radio stations since 1980.
ZACRAS announced this development at press conference held in the capital on Friday.
Watch Press Conference LIVE below:
The granted community radio stations are The Mbembesi Development Trust, Ntepe-Manama Community Radio Trust and The Nyangani Community Trust.
Speaking on the actions and steps taken by ZACRAS since the promulgation of the Broadcasting Services Act of 2021 which introduced for the first legality to the idea of community radio broadcasting in Zimbabwe through reference to the 3 tier broadcasting system comprising of public, commercial and community broadcasting, ZACRAS Chairperson Pelagia Kapuya said: “ZACRAS has been advocating for the licensing of community radios so as to give a voice and accentuate existing ones in marginalized and underrepresented communities”
“ZACRAS therefore takes this opportunity to commend the Second Republic for taking visible steps in seeking to put to life the provisions of the BSA including Section 61 and 62 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which talk about access to information and freedom of expression respectively” she added
