The Sunday Mail
Senior Reporter
ZIMPAPERS metro radio station Diamond FM has been warmly embraced in Manicaland province after going on air less than three months ago.
The Mutare-based radio station is among eight firms granted operating licenses in 2015 by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.
To date only Diamond FM and Zvishavane based YA FM have hit the airwaves.
The other six — FAYA FM, Hevoi Breeze FM, Skyz Metro FM, KE100.4 FM, and Nyaminyami FM — are yet to go on air, prompting authorities to consider changing the licensing policy.
In a statement, Zimpapers CEO Mr Pikirayi Deketeke said Diamond FM had already captured the Manicaland listenership.
“Diamond FM, Zimpapers’ metro station, which went on air in November last year, has been well received by the community in Mutare and the surrounding areas.
“The radio station is the latest addition to the fastest growing and largest media group, Zimpapers. It is amongst the eight radio stations granted a license to broadcast in 2015.
“Based at the Manica Post Building, the station is already airing presenter driven shows from 6am to 10pm and automates from 10pm to 6am.”
Mr Deketeke said the stations programming focused on development and education, mixed with a touch of entertainment.
“Under the leadership of veteran broadcaster Leander Kandiero, the station affords locals a chance to hear their own languages and dialects, mainly Jindwi, Chibocha and Ndau,” he said.
“All presenters on Diamond FM are from Manicaland and are mostly raw talent that was picked from the auditions that were conducted in June 2015.”
Mr Deketeke said the station would be officially launched after completion of renovation work at Manica Post Building.
“Zimpapers is presently on a drive to revamp its infrastructure countrywide and of late Manica Post Building has received a facelift which has seen it adding a state of the art studio to the already existing Manica Post set up,” he said.
Last week secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba expressed Government worry over the failure by most radio license recipients to go on air.
