There is nothing tribal about a Bulawayo radio station

Radio Dialogue, a Bulawayo based community radio initiative has celebrated its 10th anniversary amid disappointment over the coalition government's failure to provide broadcasting licences to independent broadcasters. Board Chairman, Peter Zwide Khumalo, said his effort to engage with the government had been without any success. Khumalo also said there is nothing tribal about a Bulawayo radio station.

Established in 2001, the initiative has engaged politicians and media activists in lobbying for a licence but this has been done to no avail as the government has remained adamant on opening the airwaves.

Speaking at a ceremony held in the city over the weekend, board chairperson of Radio Dialogue Trust, Peter Zwide Khumalo told a large gathering that it is sad that 10 years have been spent fighting for a licence.

"No one can imagine that a country that calls itself democratic will take more than 30 years to liberalise the airwaves," he said.

He bemoaned the fact that Bulawayo Dialogue had spent the greater part of its 10 years seeking a licence, in a frustrating environment that has restricted it to social media and road shows.

Radio Dialogue was the first community radio set up in the country and 13 more community radio initiatives have sprouted across the country under an umbrella body the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS).

Khumalo blasted government officials who have claimed that community radio would cause divisions and fan tribalism and hate speech.

"We have never heard the same officials complaining about the hate speech on ZBC. There is nothing tribal about Radio Dialogue or any other community radio station in Zimbabwe. We are very Zimbabwean, inclusive of Bulawayo, and we are proud of who we are. The people of Bulawayo have waited too long to have their radio station on air, and they have lost patience with this government. They can not wait any longer."

In 2009, Information, Media and Publicity minister Webster Shamu visited Radio Dialogue offices and was reportedly impressed about the set up and plans of the initiative. A follow up meeting was also held in Shamu's offices in Harare with all community radio initiatives representatives present.

Radio Dialogue says it may consider taking legal action against government as quiet diplomacy is not working.

"We have been pushed against the wall and we can no longer pretend that everything is normal," says the board.

However, executive director of the organisation Debra Mabunda feels that caution must be taken in seeking legal recourse as authorities may take advantage of the action and call for licences avoiding Radio Dialogue's application and dismiss it as an issue under courts. She says judiciary processes tend to take longer for anyone's comfort.