The Official Opening of ZongweFM Community Radio Station

"The official opening of Zongwe Fm has cheered the Sinazongwe Community" (Bright Mudonga via fb)

On November 12th, the Sinazongwe Community had reason to celebrate the official launch of Radio Zongwe FM with the allocation of an operational license and frequency by the regulatory authorities. The function was attended by IBA Director General, Ms. Josephine Mapoma, the Area Member of Parliament, Hon. Gift Sialubalo, the District Commissioner Mr. Nchimunya Siakole, the Council Chairperson, Mr. Siachibweka Cliff, the Executive Director for PANOS, Mr. Vusumuzi Sifile Sibanda, Sinazongwe Community Radio Board Chairperson, Mr. Andy Kampamu, The Chief’s Representatives, Members from the Private Sector, Heads of Departments and Members of Civil Society Organisations. A huge crowd joined the cheering with some Budima dancing and other musical performances.

A senior member of the community and former Chief's adviser Mr Louis Maanje stressed in his contribution the importance of culture and cultural exchange for the development of the project and the community at large:  
"Sinazongwe community radio station came through cultural exchange with the Austria-Zimbabwe Friendship Association. Allow me to mention that the Budima culture has a good history of contribution to development in our society. May I take this opportunity to encourage this generation to be rooted in culture because this equipment was through the interaction the late Royal Highness Chief Sinazongwe Mr. David Siantami Siankusule - may his soul rest in peace - had established with the Austria-Zimbabwe Friendship Association."

He went on to urge the Broadcasting Authority to lift some restrictions on the broadcasting coverage (like low power transmission and directional antennas) in order to reach out to the wider Sinazongwe area, adjacent districts and across the waters of Lake Kariba.  "My humble request to the IBA Director General, Ms. Josephine Mapoma is .. to allow our radio frequency to be accessed by our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe, reason being that the objective of this radio station was to bridge communication of the Tongas in Zimbabwe and us here in Zambia."

The Executive Director of Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf), Mr. Vusumuzi Sifile Sibanda, another longterm partner in this project, also pledged further support and stressed the fact that "Radio is an important tool for information access and communication, and one of the prime drivers of development."

We join the Zongwe FM family and Sinazongwe community with cheers and Very Big Congratulations!

Peter Kuthan on behalf of Austria-Zimbabwe Friendship Association

Check on more video clips on DORFTV - a big thank you - twalumba loko!

Tonga.Onair - Aufbau eines Communityradios in Sambia, 2010, https://dorftv.at/video/450
FROzine - Both sides of the Sambesi, 2018,  https://dorftv.at/video/28606
ZONGWE FM – Eine Radiobrücke über den Zambezi, 2019, https://dorftv.at/video/30971