The latest issue of The Accent provides an overview of the 26 March by-elections and spotlights the centrality of community radios to development. Read on!
March 26 by-elections:Critical baseline to upscale advocacy for media reforms
The much-anticipated March 26 by-elections across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces have come and gone. In what observers had termed a mini general election given the hype created in the days leading to the polling day, the dominant narrative post these elections has been to assess the country’s preparedness to hold a free, fair and credible plebiscite come 2023.
Zimbabwean elections have since the turn of the millennium been disputed on a number of accounts including but not limited to documented cases of violence and voter intimidation, vote buying, allegations of electoral fraud and biased media among other issues.
A case for govt support for new community radio stations
The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (Zacras) recently held a conference on community radio sustain- ability. The activity provided solutions for community radios in terms of dis- cussing the sustainability models that can be adapted for the survival of the newly licensed community radio stations.
Community radio is the final layer in the three tier broadcasting matrix, which Zimbabwe subscribes to. A community radio is a localised radio platform, which covers a speci fic grouping of people or geographical location.
Zimbabwe after years of consistent lobbying has licensed community radio stations. To date 14 have been licensed while one is now operational.
Read the full issue here (4MB PDF)
Source: Media Alliance Zimbabwe
