The Channel | 2006

AZimbabwean radio station that has survived bomb attacks, police

raids and arrests, frequency jams, and an impending court case,

has won an international media award, formerly held by global

giant BBC World Service.

Despite repressive media laws which have seen foreign

correspondents deported, and all non-government-sanctioned

media banned, RadioVoice of the People (Radio VOP), the recipient

of the One World Media Special Award, broadcasts a daily

programme, providing a lifeline for up to half a million listeners

hungry for a free media.

Created in June 2000, Radio Voice of the People set off on a journey

to reach out to the people of Zimbabwe. Each day, the

independently funded Radio VOP broadcasts a one-hour

programme of news, views and information in the country’s three

national languages - Shona, Ndebele and English. In the six years

since its launch, it has exposed human rights abuses, including

the violent land seizures since 2000 and the so-called Operation

Murambatsvina (Restore Order) which cost some 700,000

Zimbabweans their homes or livelihoods or both and otherwise

affected nearly a fifth of the troubled country’s population.

Radio VOP operates as a communications trust, established in June

2000, and is run by Zimbabwean-based trustees who include

journalists and lawyers. Its day-to-day affairs are managed by

executive directorJohn Masuku, a BBC-trained veteran broadcaster

who visited London to receive the award and proudly stated, ‘I feel

extremely delighted and honoured to have won. I am encouraged

in doing our work and getting international recognition for the

development of Zimbabwe.’

John leads a team of 6 full-time journalists and 15 freelance

correspondents based throughout the country. He joined the station

after working for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. His

remarkable background in television and radio, includes winning a

NelsonMandela prize fromURTNA for his programme onBeiraCorridor

- Zimbabwe’s Eastern Trade Passage. His accomplishments do not

rest there, as he was also co-recipient of the Prix Futura for radio

drama CHANGES. Furthermore, Masuku admirably rebuilt RadioVOP

from scratch following a bomb attack in August 2002 using his

managerial and broadcasting experience, stating that he ’was hopeful

that the station would be rebuilt and was optimistic that it would be

on air again’. This type of leadership has led the station to receiving

this award for providing the community of Zimbabwe information

and news on current issues. The trust promotes the right to free

information so that citizens can make informed choices. Radio VOP ’s

position became almost untenable when the Broadcasting Services

Act was introduced in 2001 effectively quashing all independent

media by withholding broadcasting licences from private media

through the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.* More recently

Radio VOP has applied for a commercial radio license; but like other

independent TV and radio operators, they were turned down.

Despite ongoing problems and attempts to shut them down, Radio

VOP has shown resilience in maintaining its presence for the good

of the people of Zimbabwe. Having faced a police raid in July 2002

which resulted in the removal of their files and equipment, Radio

VOP faced further hardship when their offices in Harare were

destroyed in a bomb blast. Although RadioVOPwas up and running

three months later, the problems did not disappear. In June 2003,

reporters Shorai Kariwa and Martin Chimenya were arrested and

beaten after being accused of sending foreign countries inaccurate

information about Zimbabwe. Further events followed with the

police searching the home of Masuku, taking his files and

computer which they subsequently returned.

The station continued to produce programs on issues such as human

rights, HIV/AIDS elimination, elections and the economical situation.

However, the government proceeded with ways of shutting down the

privately-owned station by jamming the frequency with the help of

Chinese technology. Yet Radio VOP simply changed frequencies and

continues to run, with hopes of extending its broadcast.

“In its lifetime the station has been castigated, threatened and

jammed but what drives us on is the belief in giving a voice to the

voiceless – giving the people of Zimbabwe an opportunity to speak

freely about issues that affect their lives and country,” said Radio

VOP director, John Masuku.

As well as news and debate, the station

is also committed to working closely with

NGOs and other bodies to promote health,

education and human rights, especially

around AIDS/HIV. This includes features

on home-based care for HIV/AIDS

sufferers as well as the administration of

anti-retroviral drugs.

RadioVOPhas run programmes on

promoting basic human rights

with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for

Human Rights and issues about

constitution-making with the

National Constitutional Assembly

(NCA). During Parliamentary and

local elections the station works

with organisations like Zimbabwe

Electoral Support Network (ZESN)

and Zimbabwe Civic Education

Trust (ZIMCET) to encourage participation. Radio VOP frequently

runs on-air competitions for short wave radios.

The programmes are broadcast to Zimbabwe through the facilities

of Radio Netherlands’ relay transmitters in Madagascar. As a

production houseVOP sends its programmes files by e-mail, internet

and courier. It receives funding from a range of organisations

including the Soros Foundation’s Open Society Initiative, Heinrich

Boell Foundation and Hivos among others.

Recognition for a survivor

At the One World Media Awards in London in

June, Zimbabwe’s Radio Voice of the People

received a top accolade. This is in sharp

contrast to Radio VOP’s day-to-day existence.

Last December Radio VOP was charged for

running a radio station without a valid

broadcasting licence - something it has

denied.

Olga Mirzoian

tells the story

The One World Media Awards recognise the achievements of

media professionals in furthering our appreciation of international

affairs. In particular, the awards honour those who have highlighted

issues of global justice, social and economic development and

human rights and who have done them in an engaging and

challenging way.