By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
KARIBA—The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has urged community radio stations across the country to shift from simply broadcasting to being cultural anchors by strengthening airtime in local languages, warning that the continued sidelining of indigenous tongues risks eroding Zimbabwe’s heritage and widening communication gaps.
Delivering remarks during the ZMC’s media tour in Kariba, where stations gathered to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 8, the Executive Secretary of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, Mr Godwin Phiri, told Kasambabezi FM 99.3 (99.3) that local languages must no longer be treated as optional or secondary content, but as central to public communication and national cohesion.
“Local languages do more than carry news they carry identity, dignity, and belonging,” Phiri said. “When communities hear themselves reflected in the language they speak at home, they gain confidence that information is truly for them.”
Phiri emphasized that community radio is uniquely positioned to correct historical imbalances in media representation, noting that many indigenous languages have long been marginalized in mainstream reporting and programming.
“Some of these languages have been treated as if they have no place in modern broadcasting,” he said. “Community radio has the responsibility to change that narrative because inclusion is not a slogan; it is a practice.”
Phiri also revealed that the Commission is rolling out targeted training initiatives aimed at helping stations develop programming rooted in indigenous languages.
According to him, the goal is to equip presenters, producers, and station staff with the skills needed to plan, create, and deliver content that reflects Zimbabwe’s linguistic diversity while also ensuring that language remains an authentic bridge between communities and public information.
“Stations require support to develop talent and build capacity,” he said.
“That support will help ensure that community radio programming is not only in local languages, but also meaningfully produced, responsibly edited, and widely understood.”
He added that the training will support practical content development, including how to craft locally relevant discussions, community storytelling, and programming that answers the real concerns of listeners.
Addressing the growing influence of digital transformation and artificial intelligence in media operations, Phiri urged stations to apply emerging technologies with care—particularly when tools are used for translation, transcription, and content preparation.
He cautioned that while AI can assist production workflows, it must not undermine the human element and lived authenticity that community radio is known for.
“AI is a tool, not a voice,” Phiri said. “It can support journalists, but it cannot replace the trust created through genuine human connection. Community radio remains grounded in community leadership, local knowledge, and real-time listening.”
Phiri stressed that stations should establish clear internal guidelines for the ethical use of AI, ensuring that technological support strengthens journalism standards rather than blurring accuracy, cultural nuance, or accountability.
As the ZMC media tour continued across the region, Phiri reiterated the Commission’s broader commitment to protecting the freedom of the media while promoting standards that serve the public interest.
For listeners in Kariba, the remarks landed with a clear message: press freedom becomes most powerful when it allows communities to speak and be heard in their own languages.
As community radio stations prepare new schedules and content strategies in the spirit of World Press Freedom Day, the ZMC’s message points toward an ambitious direction one where broadcasting does not just inform, but also preserves heritage, deepens participation, and strengthens social inclusion.
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