The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
KARIBA-BASED Nyaminyami FM – one of the four radio stations owned by integrated media house ZIMPAPERS – will begin broadcasting from Chinhoyi tomorrow ahead of its relocation to the Mashonaland West provincial capital in March, in a development set to expand the channel’s reach.
Nyaminyami FM, which recently got a frequency licence for Chinhoyi (102,3 FM), is likely to be renamed Platinum FM.
Construction of the station’s broadcasting studios is at an advanced stage, while transmitters are in transit from the supplier and scheduled for delivery the first week of March.
Station manager Davis Mugadza said the radio station will also continue broadcasting from its Kariba and Karoi studios, even after relocation.
“On Monday, we will begin broadcasting from our Chinhoyi studios. However, because there are no transmitters, our reach at the moment is limited to audiences in Kariba and Karoi only,” he said.
“We are expecting the transmitters during the first week of March, and thereafter, we will have the official launch, with our reach touching all corners of the province.
“We are also in the process of coming up with a suitable name for the radio station.
“Platinum radio station is one that has come up, given the vast platinum deposits in the area. So, the legal department is seized with the issue of renaming the station.”
Relocating the station, he said, is meant to decentralise and create employment for local communities.
“We are moving to the provincial capital of Mashonaland West. This means reaching a wider audience than we were initially doing,” he added.
“We are moving in line with Government’s vision of devolution so that no place is left behind. We have added a few new presenters and broadcasters from the area.”
Since inception, Nyaminyami has been based in Kariba, broadcasting to urban and rural parts of the resort town.
The Government has licensed 14 community radio stations over the last few years, helping to open up airwaves to more players.
