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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.
www.owbt.org