Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Harare (Fides Service)- The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations will hold a Seminar to discuss ways to start a Community Radio in Zimbabwe where freedom of expression is seriously threatened, according to the local Jesuit information bulletin “In Touch with Church and Faith”.
Zimbabwe has four radio channels all government controlled and one television channel. Many Zimbabweans fail to realise that their country has less means of communications than others. In Zambia for example the Catholic Church alone has 5 radio stations and there are other run by other churches and civil organisations. Mozambique has an independent radio system used also by the local Catholic Church. South Africa has numerous popular local radio stations which compete on equal grounds with the public service. One of the world’s independent radio stations is Radio Veritas which gives voice to the Catholic Church.
In Zimbabwe small groups are beginning to call for freedom of information and this is also the goal of the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations which is promoting the Seminar on 29 January.
The Catholic Church affirms the right to freedom of expression in the document “Aetatis Novae” (Pontifical Council for Social Communications): “It is not acceptable that the exercise of the freedom of communication should depend upon wealth, education, or political power. The right to communicate is the right of all. This calls for special national and international efforts, not only to give those who are poor and less powerful access to the information which they need for their individual and social development, but to ensure that they are able to play an effective, responsible role in deciding media content and determining the structures and policies of their national institutions of social communications” (n.15). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/1/2005 righe 29 parole 350)
