Is ZiFM going to be the game-changer?

Standard People
By Silence Charumbira Has Supa Mandiwanzira finally struck the right chord?

By Silence Charumbira Has Supa Mandiwanzira finally struck the right chord? This is the question that should have come to the minds of guests who attended the launch of Zimbabwe’s second commercial radio station last week.

  Mandiwanzira is the chief executive officer of ZiFM Stereo and it appears before setting up his station, he journeyed around the world recruiting Zimbabwean broadcasters he met along the way.

  Talk of Hosea “The Hitman” Singende, Tony Friday, Kimble Rodgers, Themba Mkanda, Jason Le Roux, Delani Makhalima, Love Jones, Abbra Symz, Dirk Viljoen, Morris Touch, Tonderai Katsande, Tinopona Katsande, Perfect Hlongwane and a host of other DJs and presenters.

  This is a list of some of the best presenters that Zimbabwe has ever produced, most of whom were scattered all over the world looking for greener pastures. Singende, who is now the programmes manager at ZiFM last week said he was thrilled to be home after such a long time.

  “When I left there were not many opportunities for me and others because the airwaves were not opened,” said Singende.

  “That is the only reason why I left but I am happy that all this talent is back home now.

  “The situation now has improved vastly and with more players in the game, journalists and presenters get more respect. The same happens everywhere; even in the United Kingdom and Malawi where I have been.”

  To add to the established presenters, there is a list of new talent on the scene fused with club DJs like Judgment Yard, who has already proven to be popular. Could this be the return of the golden age of Zimbabwean radio?

  Listening to the station in the first week has not been disappointing, especially with the experienced presenters who are provoking memories of the elderly, while presenting a different dimension for the younger generations.

  The sound has been clearer as compared to that of  ZBC while the content is more involving and attractive to the audience.

  There has also been an interesting balance of yesteryear and contemporary music as well as shuffling of the various genres of music.

  When Star FM opened a month ago, it was a signal for the winds of change that were blowing on the airwaves, which have for long been monopolised by state-controlled ZBC.

  Now that ZiFM is on air, ZBC is in danger of being further alienated and thrown into irrelevance.

  The new stations however still have to prove that they are clean inasfar as policy and content are concerned.

  Although Mandiwanzira has declared that his station is independent, it is difficult to ignore his links to Zanu PF.

  For now however, the presentations have looked clean with exciting contemporary programming and, of course, the state-of-the-art studios that enable the radio station to be accessible all over the world via internet and satellite.