Story by Fungai Jachi
COMMUNITY radio continues to expand access to information in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld, with Avuxeni FM in Chiredzi emerging as a key source of news, educational content, and emergency updates. The station’s contribution is particularly timely ahead of World Radio Day on Friday.
Commissioned in 2022, Avuxeni FM is the first officially licensed community radio station in the district. Residents report that the station has transformed how they receive information, providing reliable updates on local developments, health initiatives, and disaster preparedness.“We do not have great signal here for ZBC so Avuxeni has kept us informed as to what is happening in our communities especially on the developments and we also engage local leadership through the different programs being aired,
“It has been a game changer now we have access to information on health because they have so many programs that speak onbhelath and how to better care for ourselves,
“It has become a reliable source of Information because social media can lie.During disasters web know which rover to cross and which not to cross through the radio.
“What is even more exciting is the fact that they use a minority language but popular here in the lowveld now we get to understand things better we feel included,” residents said.
The programming here is custom made for the people of the Lowveld and the Station Manager, Ms Dhlamini sheds more light on this.
“We have diverse programmes here but we mostly focus on programs that preserve our culture because we do not want to lose who we are as a people. We also mostly engage the local leadership creating a platform for them to engage with the people,
“We mostly use Shangani because most people in the Lowveld speak the language. We are happy that the programs we have and the services we offer are changing people’s lives as now they know they have a reliable medium for Information,” Ms Dhlamini noted.
Zimbabwe will be joining the rest of the world to mark World Radio Day this coming Friday and Manicaland province is playing host to the celebrations.
Zimbabwe has more than 20 community radio stations that have been licensed as the country moves forward with its inclusive agenda.
