Community radios’ critical role in development

Obituaries
Today, more than ever before, the need for vibrant community-based media is really yawning and requiring attention, especially if we believe, as we all surely do, that no meaningful development can happen without means of communication and sharing information at a local level.

Today, more than ever before, the need for vibrant community-based media is really yawning and requiring attention, especially if we believe, as we all surely do, that no meaningful development can happen without means of communication and sharing information at a local level. This is especially because communication is one of the key enablers for development that it cannot be taken for granted. Development is only meaningful and empowering if citizens themselves are their own champions who chart the way forward and implement development plans. In the same vein, media is a cross-cutting issue which touches every sector and every sector can benefit through citizen participation promoted by unfettered access to information and free expression.

According to Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO), more than 850 million people in developing countries are excluded from a wide range of knowledge and information. This is especially so in rural communities where the poor have remained isolated from both traditional and new ICTs which improve their livelihoods and development.

Community radio and the democratisation of communication are key pillars of community development and the harnessing of these elements is important in promoting development. Once horizontal circulation and grassroots participation is enhanced, citizens begin to take charge of their development needs and agenda. With vibrant community media, community cross-fertilisation of ideas, grassroots participation and democratisation of opinion is promoted and encouraged. Community radio is a real tool which can be used to cultivate and gather views of the rural communities. This is especially crucial if one considers the fact that about 60% of Zimbabwe population is in rural communities according to the last census.

Tumucio (2001) observed that, considering the socio-cultural and geographical structure of rural, remote people, community radio has been found to be more effective and inclusive medium to provide unbiased information and knowledge among the masses. As observed in other developing countries where community radio has been allowed and supported, various community-based organisations (CBOs) involved in development work are supported by community radio. This is beginning to be evident in our situation where 28 community radio initiatives under the umbrella of the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (Zacras), are already playing a very significant role in advancing the work of such CBOs. In Kadoma for instance, Berina Community Radio is already working with District Aids Committee (DAC) in responding to HIV and Aids issues by disseminating useful information to the community. This is the same scenario in Kwekwe where Kwekwe Community Radio is working with Zimbabwe National Network for People Living with HIV & Aids (ZNNP+) in responding to HIV and Aids pandemic.

Community Radio Harare (Corah) is working with organisations such as Tashinga Organisation for People Living with Disabilities where they provide a platform of communication in order for issues that affect the disabled to be highlighted to the public for possible solutions and policy reviews. Issues related with service delivery are also addressed working with the Combined Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA). In essence, community radio enhances citizen participation and people-centred development.

The historical philosophy of community radio is to use this medium as the voice of the voiceless, the mouthpiece of the oppressed people and generally as a tool for development. What is curious regarding our situation is that our government has been dragging feet on this very important issue which, if it had been given a chance earlier on, communities would have been participating more actively in development projects. It is therefore a disservice for the government of Zimbabwe to deliberately cause the delay of licensing of community radios.

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