ZiFM Stereo
 | |
| Cities covered by license | Whole Zimbabwe |
|---|---|
| Slogan | "My Station Your Station" |
| Frequency |
|
| First air date | August 15, 2012 |
| Language(s) | English, Shona, Ndebele |
| CEO/MD | Susan Makore |
| Owner | Supa Mandiwanzira (African Business Communications) |
| Webcast | radio |
| Website | www |
ZiFM Stereo is the first privately-owned radio station in Zimbabwe. It is owned by Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front politician, Supa Mandiwanzira through his company African Business Communications (AB Communications). The company was awarded a free-to-air broadcasting license in November 2011 and started broadcasting on 15 August 2012, effectively ending the 32-year dominance and monopoly of airwaves by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). The station also became the first in Zimbabwe to stream online.
Founding
Supa Mandiwanzira's company, AB Communications, was one of several companies that applied to the Broadcasting Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) for a broadcasting license in Zimbabwe. Only four companies were shortlisted by BAZ: Zimbabwe Newspapers (a government-owned media company which later launched Star FM), Hot Media, and Vox Media. Announcing AB Communications and Zimbabwe Newspapers winners after an adjudication process, BAZ chairperson, Tafataona Mahoso said that AB Communications scored 99 out of 106 points, Zimpapers 93 points, Hot Media 80 points and Vox Media 70 points.[1]
Mandiwanzira at the time of being awarded the license said they'd launch the station within 6 months.[1] In the seventh month (June 2012) however, ZiFM announced it had acquired state-of-the-art transmission and studio equipment from Italian company, DB Elettronica Telecomunicazioni. The deal was sealed at a National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. ZiFM Stereo only started broadcasting on 15 August 2012. Star FM started broadcasting on 25 June 2012.[2]
Content
ZiFM Stereo is primarily a music station. The station's content is split 70% music, 30% talk. The music played on the Station is 75% local, 10% regional and 15% international.[3]
Presenters and DJs
- Zororo Makamba - Impact
- Kimble Rogers - The Rush
- Delani Makhalima
- Captain Awesome & Lexy-Alexis - The Heartbeat
- TK & MisRed - The Ignition
- Patience Musa - The XhaleBlock
- Dirk Viljoen, Marc Pozzo & Alois Bunjira - In The Zone
- Tich Mawoni - News Roundup
- Candice Mwakalyelye - Market Watcher
- Tshila - Our Story
- DJ Eskay - The Love Lounge
Partisan Allegations
Just like Star FM, ZiFM has often been linked to the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU PF). Allegations were levelled at the independence of the station since, its founder, Supa Mandiwanzira is a ZANU PF member and currently a cabinet minister. From the onset, it was alleged that Mandiwanzira was awarded the license on a political basis especially when more than ten applications were rejected for no apparent reasons.[4] Despite the allegations, Mandiwanzira came out in the open to deny allegations saying it was his democratic right to support any party he wants. He went further to assure the audience that this would not influence programming at the station.[5]
Awards
Since its inception, the station had been commended for its unique programming and reportage of unbiased news. In 2013, it won Victor's award in the 'Fast-Growing Radio Station' category.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zimpapers, ZB awarded radio licenses, The Herald, Retrieved:1 February 2015, Published:24 November 2014
- ↑ Look, we own the airwaves!, Zimbabwe Independent, Retrieved:1 February 2015, Published:29 June 2012
- ↑ About ZiFM, ZiFM, Retrieved:1 February 2015
- ↑ Staff Reporter, Anger as ABC, Zimpapers win radio licences, 'New Zimbabwe', Published: 24 Dec 2011, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
- ↑ Staff Reporters, Mandiwanzira defiant over Zanu PF links, 'New Zimbabwe', Published: 1 Sep 2012, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
- ↑ Zimbo Jam Network, Fast Growing Radio Station Victor’s Night Awards & the Importance of Celebrating Each Other, 'Zimbo Jam', Published: 22 Nov 2013, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
