Zimbabwe radio station goes live on internet

Zimbabwe radio station goes live on internet

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By Staff Reporter

BLACKLISTED and hounded out of Zimbabwe's state radio after being labelled opposition supporters, a group of journalists are now using the internet to form common front against President Robert Mugabe's regime.

A new 24-hour independent internet radio station went live last week, broadcasting to thousands of Zimbabweans from a location in London.

Owners of the new radio station called Afro-Sounds FM say it was set up to "entertain and inform."

Harsh media laws in Zimbabwe have ensured government retains control over the media - both print and broadcasting. Three independent newspapers have been shut down and Zimbabwean journalists are now being forced to resort to "illegal" broadcasts from foreign countries to beat the country's harsh media laws.

"We don't want to only entertain," says Station Manager Zenzo Ncube, a former Radio 4 DJ and Afro Beat presenter. "We want to use entertainment to draw the attention of Zimbabweans and update them on what is happening to their beloved country."

Among the ex-Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) DJs set to make guest appearences on the station is former Radio 2 (now Radio Zimbabwe) favourite Ezra Tshisa Sibanda, who also lives in London.

Sibanda is just one of at least 600 workers forced out by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo during a clean-up targeted at employees thought to be sympathetic to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Ncube said: "We are happy to be able to provide independent news and information to Zimbabweans who are concerned about the deteriorating situation at home. For the greater part of the day we play music and we have hourly news updates in the evening."

By visiting the station's website, listeners can download a special programme to their computers. Within a minute, the download is complete and listeners can listen live.
TO LISTEN TO AFRO-SOUNDS FM go to the website: http://www.zimnews.co.uk and follow instructions. More information mail@zimnews.co.uk or call 02070934828 or 07843655418
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