The Sunday Mail
Leroy Dzenga
University campus radio stations should reflect on the institutions’ identity and focus on producing knowledge for communities, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira has said.
“We do not want to hear radio stations at a science-based institution spending time talking about fist fights in communities or witches; they should rather be a platform where complex scientific concepts are made accessible to regular Zimbabweans,” said Prof Murwira in an interview with The Sunday Mail.
State universities, he added, have been allocated broadcasting frequencies and are expected to set up radio stations for their communities.
“For instance, we have the Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology – farmers should know that if they tune into their radio, they will get information which is relevant to them.
“There should be sophistication in the manner that campus radios operate; they cannot simply broadcast for the sake of broadcasting.”
Great Zimbabwe University campus radio, which has been running for close to a year now, has carved a niche in Masvingo.
The campus radio director, Mr Golden Maunganidze, said it was possible to positively impact on communities.
“In our programming, we give specific focus to community issues during Covid-19 times.
“We have managed to get experts to break down the science to ensure people have the latest information during the pandemic.
“We have also used our platform to dispel myths and misinformation on key issues,” he said.
On Monday Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Press Freedom Day, which ran under the theme “Information as a Public Good”.
