Radio licence hearings set for next month

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THE Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has scheduled public hearings for companies vying for commercial radio licences in Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls for next month.

THE Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has scheduled public hearings for companies vying for commercial radio licences in Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls for next month. CHIEF REPORTER

The meetings for Bulawayo are set to be held over two days on September 2 and 3. The format is the same for Harare on September 9 and 10.

Victoria Falls gets its turn on September 5 where one firm, Fairtalk Communications trading as Breeze FM is shortlisted.

In July, BAZ postponed the hearings countrywide citing “unforeseen circumstances”.

The regulatory body said in Bulawayo, FairTalk Communications (Pvt) Ltd trading as SKYZ Metro FM, Skies Radio (Pvt) Ltd, trading as Skies FM and Carryslot (Pvt) Ltd trading as Skyz FM would present their proposals to the public.

Skies FM is being bankrolled by Transport minister Obert Mpofu, Skyz Metro is fronted by Qhubani Moyo and Cont Mhlanga and Skyz FM is owned by Alpha Media Holdings, publishers of Southern Eye, NewsDay, The Standard and Zimbabwe Independent.

In Harare, hearings into the Carryslot (Pvt) Ltd trading as Capital FM and Yes Frequency Modulation trading as Yes FM proposals would be held on September 9 while Kingstons Holdings trading as K.E 100 4 FM would get its chance on the 10th.

Hearings for five other centres are set to run between August 19 and 29.

Shortlisted firms are Gogogo FM owned by AB communications (Masvingo), Ya FM (Zvishavane), Faya FM in Gweru, which is also owned by the AB communications stable, Diamond FM in Mutare under Zimpapers and Nyamimyami FM under Kingstons Holdings in Kariba.

Recently, BAZ chief executive, Obert Muganyura said six applicants out of 18 shortlisted for radio licences pulled out of the race after failing to pay the $7 500 statutory public inquiry fees on time or for other reasons.

They include Lupane Radio, Bukisa Services (Lupane), Mosie Radio (Victoria Falls), Masego Multimedia (Bulawayo), Vox Media Productions (Harare) and AB Communications (Mutare).

In January, the government said it targeted licensing at least 25 radio stations across the country within two months.