Radio VOP has been commended for its resilience and continued broadcasting of diverse views in a difficult situation. Women Affairs Gender and Community Development Deputy Minister Jessie Majome said this at the 10th Anniversary celebrations of Radio VOP held in Harare and and castigated Global Political Agreement (GPA) principals for delaying freeing the airwaves.
It broadcasts every morning between 6 and 7am on 9875 kHz on shortwave via the RNW Madagascar relay station, and plans are under way to re-introduce an evening bulletin. It also has a 24 hour website www.radiovop.com, attracting readers from all over the world.
Zanu (PF) has labelled Radio VOP and other similar stations broadcasting from outside, pirate radio stations, and has listed them among the outstanding issues of the GPA talks. Radio VOP Board members Nhlanhla Ngwenya (treasurer) and David Masunda said the radio station remained committed to serving the people of Zimbabwe by telling them stories without fear and favour.
“We are disappointed that two years after the formation of the inclusive government, which we thought was going to bring democracy in the country there is still no movement and attempt by the government to open up the airwaves. Radio VOP is more than ready and keen to broadcast and tell the Zimbabwe story from Zimbabwe any time. We want our radio station to be an information factory where citizens get all the information they deserve .We want to channel information in different ways, like through YouTube. via cell phones and Facebook,” said Mr Masunda.
Guest speaker at the occasion Lumko Mtimde, the chief executive of the Media Development and Diversity Agency in South Africa said it was not easy for a country coming from a dictatorship rule to give broadcasting licences. “Players in the broadcasting sector should write proposals to the government and demand the opening of the airwaves. That is the situation we went through in South Africa when the country was transforming from the former apartheid to a democratic rule. The process is not easy but you have to soldier on till the battle is won,” he advised.
Established in 2000, the private radio station was forced to close shop in the country when its Harare studios were raided by police in December, 2005. Following the raid the station’s reporters and the chief executive officer were arrested and detained for some days. They were later released when the entire board was called to appear in court to answer charges of contravening the Broadcasting Services Act by broadcasting without a licence. The case was however dismissed as a “circus” by a Harare magistrate.
The station was also bombed in 2002 by unknown assailants.
The radio station employs more than 30 journalists most of whom were victimised by the former Zanu (PF) government through the media draconian laws such as the notorious Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
Several panellists drawn from the media, civic society and business also attended the occasion and called on Radio VOP to work in partnership with others to fight repressive media laws and the opening of the airwaves.
(Source: Radio VOP)
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