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Community radio grouping hold first meeting
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe)
February 19, 2004

The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) interim executive held its first meeting on 12 February 2004 at Kadoma Ranch Hotel. All interim executive members led by chairperson, Debra Mabunda (board chairperson Radio Dialogue) attended the meeting.

Issues discussed included the finalisation of the constitution which was adopted on 6 December 2003 and had been sent back to the drafters to alter certain items as discussed. The constitution was eventually finalised at this meeting.

The meeting also confirmed that Radio Dialogue secretariat would meantime act as ZACRAS secretariat with Kholiwe Nyoni acting as the link person.

It was resolved that ZACRAS be registered as a trust. Chris Mhike, a media lawyer, and Wilbert Mandinde, MISA acting advocacy officer, were tasked to work on this aspect. Participants were requested to suggest trustees by 28 February 2004.

The committee also resolved to introduce a Z$10 000 membership fee for individuals while institutions will pay Z$50 000 per annum. All members were tasked to recruit members for ZACRAS especially from their associations and organisations working on community radio initiatives.

Father Nigel Johnson, Radio Dialogue Coordinator, who is also the ZACRAS finance secretary was tasked with fundraising and will work with Richard Musazulwa, a Gweru based journalist and Wilbert Mandinde.

It was resolved that ZACRAS opens its own bank account and that currently the chairperson, secretary-general (Hayes Mabweazara – Media studies lecturer National University of Science and Technology) and the finance secretary will be the signatories with the secretary falling off once secretariat is in place as the co-coordinator will also be a signatory.

In the plan of action, it was resolved that the interim committee publicise ZACRAS by forming and strengthening community radio initiatives throughout the country. It was also resolved a workshop he held on how to co-ordinate this initiative at national level. It was also resolved that it is necessary to visit other countries were community radio stations exist as a learning process.

A review meeting will be held on 29 May 2004 with the Annual General Meeting scheduled for 25 September 2004.

ZACRAS was formed as part of the MISA-Zimbabwe campaign for broadcasting diversity.

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