News / Regional
Tsholotsho complains of poor radio, ZTV signals to IMPI
08 May 2014 at 06:20hrs | Views
THE Tsholotsho community in Matabeleland North yesterday told the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI) that government must speed up the setting up of community radio stations.
The government is on record as saying community radios would be licensed by year end.
Yesterday, participants at an IMPI public hearing in Tsholotsho told the panel that community radios were necessary to cover the gap as they were struggling to get radio and television signals.
Participants also castigated the media for focusing on negative issues and neglecting developmental issues.
They also complained that the media does not cover local events.
One villager, Hebert Mpofu from Ward 13 in Tsholotsho, said radio and television signals must be improved for locals to access public broadcasts.
"We don't receive the signal for ZTV and radio here in Tsholotsho. We resort to listening to foreign radio stations who broadcast issues that have nothing to do with us. People at times resort to climbing trees to listen to the news," he said.
Mpofu called on government to license a community radio station, Radio Zhwane, which he said was ready to broadcast to the people of Tsholotsho once licensed.
Tsholotsho Rural District Council vice chairperson Dora Mkwananzi told the panel that before independence Tsholotsho had a radio station at Mbamba area which should be resuscitated.
"Media focus on negative issues and at times distort facts to sell their papers. We don't want that; let's all talk about developmental issues that improve people's lives," said Mkwananzi.
Other issues presented to the panel were lack of cellphone coverage in some areas, artistes shunning rural areas and public media shunning local arts and music.
Villagers urged the government to act on their proposals.
IMPI chairman Geoffrey Nyarota said he was pleased with the attendance and quality of contributions.
He said media polarisation and inappropriate content were the recurrent issues being raised at public meetings.
"People are open and tell us what they want and it's a pity the media has not taken time to listen to what people expect from them. This is quite an eye opener and we will take the message to the minister and I am sure it will benefit the media," said Nyarota.
IMPI public meetings continue in Bulawayo today at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in the morning and Small City Hall in the afternoon.
The government is on record as saying community radios would be licensed by year end.
Yesterday, participants at an IMPI public hearing in Tsholotsho told the panel that community radios were necessary to cover the gap as they were struggling to get radio and television signals.
Participants also castigated the media for focusing on negative issues and neglecting developmental issues.
They also complained that the media does not cover local events.
One villager, Hebert Mpofu from Ward 13 in Tsholotsho, said radio and television signals must be improved for locals to access public broadcasts.
"We don't receive the signal for ZTV and radio here in Tsholotsho. We resort to listening to foreign radio stations who broadcast issues that have nothing to do with us. People at times resort to climbing trees to listen to the news," he said.
Mpofu called on government to license a community radio station, Radio Zhwane, which he said was ready to broadcast to the people of Tsholotsho once licensed.
"Media focus on negative issues and at times distort facts to sell their papers. We don't want that; let's all talk about developmental issues that improve people's lives," said Mkwananzi.
Other issues presented to the panel were lack of cellphone coverage in some areas, artistes shunning rural areas and public media shunning local arts and music.
Villagers urged the government to act on their proposals.
IMPI chairman Geoffrey Nyarota said he was pleased with the attendance and quality of contributions.
He said media polarisation and inappropriate content were the recurrent issues being raised at public meetings.
"People are open and tell us what they want and it's a pity the media has not taken time to listen to what people expect from them. This is quite an eye opener and we will take the message to the minister and I am sure it will benefit the media," said Nyarota.
IMPI public meetings continue in Bulawayo today at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in the morning and Small City Hall in the afternoon.
Source - chronicle
