Tinotenda Hove – The government has announced a new round of community radio licensing in ten districts, but the move has sparked criticism amid concerns it will strengthen Zanu PF’s grip on local media and limit space for independent voices.

In a statement issued on Friday, government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said:
“Community Radio Initiatives in the following areas are called upon to submit applications for licensing by 30 September 2025.”

The targeted areas include:

• Chivhu
• Gokwe Nembudziya
• Chivi
• Marondera
• Kanyemba
• Sanyati
• Dande
• Makoni
• Gutu
• Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe

While the announcement was framed as a positive step to promote local content and empower rural communities, media professionals have expressed concern that the process may once again favour applicants with ties to the ruling party.

A Masvingo-based media lecturer, who asked not to be named for professional reasons, said the development was unlikely to enhance media diversity.

“This move could further prop up Zanu PF propaganda, as only those aligned to the ruling party are likely to grab the licenses,” the lecturer said. “We have seen in past licensing rounds that independent or community-rooted applicants often don’t stand a chance.”

The areas listed — including Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, Gokwe Nembudziya, and Chivi — are well-known Zanu PF strongholds, leading some to question whether the expansion is politically calculated ahead of the 2028 elections.

Opposition politicians and civil society actors have long criticised the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and recently licensed so-called community stations for acting as mouthpieces of the ruling party.

In 2023, then-legislator Job Sikhala warned that government control over media was deepening. “This government wants every radio, every newspaper, and every screen to praise Zanu PF. That is not democracy,” he said during a parliamentary debate on freedom of expression.

Zimbabwe’s broadcasting regulator, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), has previously faced allegations of bias in its licensing decisions — something the government has repeatedly denied.

As the 30 September 2025 deadline approaches, critics say the focus should be on establishing truly independent, community-run stations — not expanding political echo chambers.

“Without impartial licensing and editorial independence, what we’re calling ‘community radio’ becomes just another tool for political messaging,” the Masvingo lecturer added.