ZIMBABWE/UK: ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALISTS SET UP INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION - SW RADIO AFRICA IN LONDON TO BROADCAST BACK TO ZIMBABWE
Record ID:
572063
ZIMBABWE/UK: ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALISTS SET UP INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION - SW RADIO AFRICA IN LONDON TO BROADCAST BACK TO ZIMBABWE
- Title: ZIMBABWE/UK: ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALISTS SET UP INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION - SW RADIO AFRICA IN LONDON TO BROADCAST BACK TO ZIMBABWE
- Date: 1st March 2002
- Summary: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, ZIMBABWE AND LONDON, UK (RECENT AND FILE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF SW RADIO AFRICA JOURNALISTS PREPARING FOR NEWS BULLETIN (2 SHOTS) 0.06 2. SCU COMPUTER SCREEN 0.09 3. STATION FOUNDER GERRY JACKSON AND WIDE OF PRESENTER VIOLET GONDA PUTTING ON HEADPHONES IN STUDIO 0.10 4. SCU CLOCK AND MICROPHONE 0.
- Embargoed: 16th March 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CHITUNGWIZA, ZIMBABWE AND LONDON, UK
- City:
- Country: England Zimbabwe United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA8U6DD42QPCS11W2S1RBMAUMKN
- Story Text: A group of Zimbabwean journalists have set up the
country's only independent radio station in North London. SW
Radio Africa broadcasts daily into Zimbabwe on shortwave. In
the UK, people can tune in on the Web. The station is
gathering a growing number of listeners, but its existence
has infuriated the Zimbabwean government.
It's twenty minutes to the hour and these
journalists are getting ready for a news bulletin.
This is SW Radio Africa - Zimbabwe's only independent
radio station.
All these journalists are from Zimbabwe, but they came
to London to set up shop last December.
"We looked at setting up regionally and it was very
clear that the countries in the region would not allow us to
do that. They have taken a very ambivalent stance on the
situation in Zimbabwe, so we're here by default. It's
English speaking, there are half a million Zimbabweans here,
we vaguely understand the system. That's the only reason we
are here", says Gerry Jackson, founder of SW Radio Africa.
Gerry Jackson is the station's founder. She came here in
November 2000 after losing her job as a radio presenter for
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
SW Radio Africa is on air every evening between 6 and 9
Zimbabwean time.
It broadcasts into Zimbabwe on short wave. In the UK,
listeners can tune in on the Web.
The station is gathering a growing number of listeners.
"We can't actually work out listenership figures because
the level of violence in Zimbabwe is so high. You can't
actually send someone out into a rural area with a clipboard
they just get beaten. We can only work on phonecalls and
e-mails and it's huge. We have a website that we stream live
on and of course we can absolutely quantify that and we've
just reached over the half a million mark", says Jackson.
The station's existence has infuriated the Zimbabwean
Government.
It called for the radio to be banned. But SW Radio
Africa insists that they're not aligned to any political
party.
"We try and bring balanced news reports. That is
incredibly difficult because the situation is so unbalanced
in Zimbabwe for a start. And secondly, government won't
speak to you. Police won't speak to you. So you can't
actually broadcast the other point of view", says Jackson.
SW Radio Africa has no reporters on the ground in
Zimbabwe.
It relies on e-mails and phonecalls from people there.
Listeners leave a message on a local number and
producers in London ring them back.
John Matinde and Mandy Mundawarara the producers of
'Call-Back', a programme that deals with everyday issues,
are getting ready to broadcast.
They say, Zimbabweans are desperate to be heard.
"One woman today said to me can I mention the word ZANU
PF, and I said to her yes, and she just went on and on and
on and you can tell people have bottled up things. People
don't have an arena, they don't have a forum to express
their view point", says Mandy.
"And this also highlights the intimidation factor. You
know if somebody actually asks you whether they can mention
the name of a party it shows you that they're not used to
that free voice, free expression as it were. You can't even
trust your neighbour back home, you don't know who you're
talking to, who your friends are", says John.
John and Mandy both have families in Zimbabwe. But
they're not worried about their safety. They say they're
only doing a normal job. They shouldn't be at risk for
broadcasting information.
"We are not criminals, we're doing nothing immoral,
we're doing nothing illegal so in that respect I shouldn't
have to feel worried about my own safety if I go to Zimbabwe
and I think that is the attitude that I will continue to
hold onto", says Mandy.
Exiled Zimbabweans recently staged a human rights
demonstration outside Zimbabwe House in London.
"I don't sleep every night. I'm dreaming bad dreams
because Mugabe can do anything. He can do anything anytime.
I'll never ever forgive him. Even if I die, I'll never ever
forgive him", says refugee Adela Chiminya.
Refugee Patson Muzuwa, Member of MDC says "We're dying
in Zimbabwe. We're happy to do everything possible to have
free and fair elections."
With presidential elections coming up, SW Radio Africa
has expanded its broadcast and invited all presidential
candidates to advertise.
The staff of SW Radio Africa are hoping the elections
will bring change to Zimbabwe.
"We can only hope that after the elections the situation
returns to some normality, that the broadcasting regulations
are changed and that radio Stations are allowed to broadcast
there", says Jackson.
As the world watches developments in Zimbabwe, Gerry and
her team continue to work for their dream.
That one day SW Radio Africa will be one of many voices
on Zimbabwe's airwaves.
ENDS
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