New dawn as the Beitbridge community radio goes on air

THE opening of a community radio station in Beitbridge, Lotsha FM broadcasting mainly in Tshivenda, has brightened life for the community which has endured decades of poor radio and television network reception.

The radio, licenced by the Government as part of giving communities a voice, went on air on Tuesday at 10pm.

Under the current set up, the radio will be operating from transmitters in Beitbridge town and the Shashe area covering two thirds of the 300km wide district.

Prior to the latest development, people from Beitbridge were relying mainly on radio and television signals from Botswana and South African channels.

The development is part of Government’s thrust to promote development at the grassroots level and ensure all communities and all language groups have a voice.

Speaking during a recent visit to Beitbridge, Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana said community radio stations were critical in pushing development in line with the devolution concept.

Fourteen community radio stations have been granted broadcasting licenses to help address issues of communication and underdevelopment in some parts of the country.

Matabeleland South received four licences for community radio stations to broadcast in Venda, Sotho, Kalanga, and Ndebele languages.

He said it was also very critical for the community radios to amass as much content as possible so that they may broadcast meaningful and helpful programmes for people in their areas.

Government and its agencies had spent US$40 000 through the broadcasting funds to set up the Beitbridge Shashe Community radio which should be on air by Wednesday next week.

“This is a community station and we expect the community to play an active role in defining content and the developmental issues around this area,” he said.

The station had been receiving support from many stakeholders and he appealed on the corporate world to be actively involved as part of community social responsibility programmes.

“We want to ensure that besides being on air, these radios stations are sustainably run though the involvement of everyone around this area”.

The community stations would help nature talents and present a converging point for people to discuss challenges and their solution.

The community radio station’s board chairman, Mr Mekia Muyambo, said the opening of Lotsha FM marked a new era for the Beitbridge community.

“We are excited. It was never an easy road but we sailed through and we want to commend the Second Republic for walking the talk on liberalising airwaves and giving the Venda community a platform and opportunity to tell their story in their own language,” he said.

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