As part of the organisation’s efforts to empower the poor and marginalised communities to effectively use information to foster their development, PSAf has launched a new community radio station in Itezhi Tezhi, in Zambia’s Southern Province. 

The new station, ITT FM radio, is one of the two stations that PSAf, in collaboration with the local radio associations, established in 2008 with financial support from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). The other one being Kasempa Community Radio in North Western province. 

Scores of local people, traditional leaders and representatives of various state and non-state establishments converged at the station on July 14 for the official launch. The launch was attended by PSAf staff members and board representative Ms Juliana Chileshe, the entire board and staff members for ITT FM Radio, Pia Wahl from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), officials from different government departments, and four of the six traditional chiefs in Itezhi Tezhi district – their Royal Highnesses Chief Musungwa, Chief Chilyabufu, Chief Shimbizhi and Chief Kaingu.  

Speaking at the launch, acting PSAf Executive Director, Lilian Chigona, said it was the organisation’s goal to see ITT FM Radio become a model community radio station in Zambia.

“The establishment of this station is in line with our efforts to provide people with platforms where they can air out their views on issues affecting them, enabling them to question the authorities on certain decisions,” said Chigona.

She commended the various stakeholders, especially members of the community for their support to the station.

“For us, the greatest support comes from the community,” she said. “I would like to make a special appeal to the community members to work hard to support and protect the station as their baby. Allow the station space to operate in a manner that would allow it to be more effective… so it grows.”

The chairperson of the ITT FM station board, Mr Lucas Chiwela, said the launch of the station fulfilled what the community of Itezhi Tezhi always wanted since 2007 when the idea of a radio station was conceived. He said the station was a very effective platform for communication in Itezhi tezhi, and had become a very effective means of reaching every part of the district, especially in times of bad weather.

“During the rainy season, some parts of some areas in this district are cut off because some roads become impassable,” said Chiwela.

The station is currently broadcasting from 06:00hrs to 21:00hrs every day in FM. 

Speaking on behalf of the traditional leadership in the district, His Royal Highness Chief Chilyabufu pledged their continued support for the station, and asked PSAf  “to continue to support this work which we started together”. 

The District Administrative Officer for Itezhi Tezhi, Mr Hampende Hichilema, said the establishment of the station was in line with the government’s vision under the Sixth National Development Plan to have information and knowledge based society. Mr Hichilema was the guest of honour at the launch, on behalf of the District Commissioner who could not make it due to other official commitments outside the district. 

“This radio station is a blessing to all of us. We need to use it in a sustainable way. We needed it, and someone gave it to us free of charge. We would like to promise to use this property in a sustainable way,” said Mr Hichilema.

He said there was great potential for the station to be used to promote tourism and other development activities within the Kafue national park. 

After the launch, PSAf officials met with the ITT station board to discuss ways of enhancing the station’s operations. This was followed by a joint meeting of PSAf staff and ITT station board with traditional leaders and representatives of the District commissioner’s office. The discussions looked at how the different parties could support the station management to ensure that the radio station becomes a key tool for education especially in terms of the Ila culture. The meetings endorsed an earlier decision that 60% of programming content should be in Ila, while Tonga and English would get 20% each. 

Ms Chigona said the station should also come up with a strategy that will allow it to make money and become self-reliant, and warned the community against interfering with the normal operations of the radio station.

Notes for Editors

• ITT FM Radio is one of the two community radio stations jointly run by Panos Institute Southern Africa and the community through a Board, the other one being Kasempa Community Radio in North Western Province.
• Construction and equipment for the radio station were secured through funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), while the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Nowergian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) provide financial support for the operations at the station. 
• For further information on PSAf’s work with community media, please contact us at general@panos.org.zm or Tel number  +260-211-263258.