Story by Mthokozisi Dube
COMMUNITY radio stations have been implored to prioritise heritage-based content to protect local languages.
This came out when Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere officially commissioned the Twasumpuka community radio station in Binga this Thursday.
As part of efforts to counter social media misinformation and empower communities, the government has officially commissioned Twasumpuka Community Radio Station at a ceremony held in Binga this Thursday.
Named Twasumpuka translated to – “we have developed”, the Binga community is on cloud nine saying the radio station will among other things market domestic tourism in the area.
“We are happy we have developed, we now have a radio station which will help tell our story as the Binga community,” said a Binga community member.
“The government has remembered us, we will now get information and have our school lessons on radio,” excitedly added another.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere implored the community radio station to prioritise heritage-based content.
“The Second Republic continues to score success stories. We are in Binga where we want this radio station to help in information dissemination and counter fake news. The radio station should bring on board the community at various levels of problem-solving. We want to have every community on board as we journey towards Vision 2030,” he said.
Chairperson of the community radio station, Mr Sam Sibanda chronicled how they came up with the idea of setting up a radio station in Binga.
“We were licenced in 2021 and we are happy we now have structures in our different wards. We are broadcasting 75% in Tonga and 25% in other national languages. What we want is to have the station being supported by incoming generating projects.”
Covering Binga and surrounding areas, Twasumpuka FM is one of the three community radio stations licenced by the government in Matabeleland North province.
The Second Republic has licenced 14 community radio stations countrywide to ensure local communities have access to information while promoting their cultural values and norms.
