18 radio applicants shortlisted

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe has short-listed 18 applicants for local commercial radio licences, among them Zimpapers, that owns one of two private radio station in the country, Star FM.

Of the 18 applicants who have been short-listed, only one from each area would be granted a licence which means only nine would be successful.

BAZ chief executive Mr Obert Muganyura said the short-listed applicants would be required to appear before public hearings to determine their suitability as required by the Broadcasting Services Act ( Chapter 12:06).

"Since these licences are for the provision of local services, the hearings will be conducted in those areas where the services are to be provided to enable the communities hosting these stations to assist the authority in determining the applicants' suitability to be licensed in terms of the law," he said.

Harare has four applicants namely; Carry (Pvt) Ltd trading as Capital FM, Yes Frequency Modulation (Pvt) Ltd trading as Yes FM, Voxmedia Productions (Pvt) Ltd trading as Vop FM and Kingstons trading as Ke100.4FM.

Bulawayo has four applicants which are Fairtalk Communications (Pvt) Ltd trading as Skyz FM, Skies Radio (Pvt) Ltd trading as Skies Radio, Carryslot (Pvt) Ltd trading as Skyz FM and Masego Multimedia (Pvt) Ltd trading as Bulawayo's Finest.

Gweru, Masvingo, Zvishavane and Kariba have one application each namely AB Communication (Pvt) Ltd trading as FAYA FM, AB Communications (Pvt) Ltd trading as Gogogoi FM, Ray of Hope (Pvt) Ltd trading as Ya FM And Kingstons (Pvt) Ltd trading as Nyami Nyami FM respectively.

Mutare, Lupane and Victoria Falls have two applicants each namely Zimpapers (Pvt) Ltd trading as Diamond FM and AB Communications (Pvt) Ltd trading as Highlands FM, Lupane FM (Pvt) Ltd trading as Lupane Radio and Bukisa Services trading as Isizwe FM) and Mosie Radio (Pvt) Ltd trading as Mosie FM and Fairtalk Communications (Pvt) Ltd trading as Breeze FM respectively.