Construction of the Plumtree community radio studios, Getjenge FM is nearing completion, but there are concerns over the delay by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to open the airwaves and issue operating licenses. The project manager Thomas Sithole said the project was a community initiative through the Plumtree Development Trust.
“We started the project as Plumtree community and we managed to get a stand where we started constructing the studios and offices which should be complete within the next two weeks,” Sithole said on Wednesday.
He said the community had submitted their application for an operating licence to BAZ, but the licence was taking long to be granted.
“We want to start operating as soon as we are given the licence,” said Sithole.
He said they would soon start sourcing equipment in readiness for broadcasting.
Sithole said there were fears plans by the government to install transmitters at border areas of the country could be a ploy to block community radios.
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“The question is, if those transmitters are installed will the government assist the community radios to function or will they use them for their own radio stations and disadvantage the upcoming?” said Sithole.
The board of trustees running the project comprises Lancelot Moyo as chairperson, Morgan Ndebele, deputy chairprson, Progress Dube, secretary, Sithembiso Sibanda, treasurer and four committee members.