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Radio Dialogue denied licence
Media Institute of Souther Africa (MISA)
May 13, 2005

"Radio Dialogue" which has been waiting in the wings for a community radio licence has been denied a licence to operate a free to air local commercial radio licence by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ).

"Radio Dialogue" which is based in the second city of Bulawayo, applied for the commercial radio licence after BAZ invited applications for private radio stations and one television station.

In turning down the application, BAZ noted that in its proposals, "Radio Dialogue" had described itself as a community radio station but had gone on to apply for a free to air local commercial radio licence for Bulawayo.

"The invitation was however for a free to air broadcasting (narrow casting services). Your application does, not, therefore, conform to the licence for which the Authority invited applications," reads part of the letter from BAZ, dated 27 April 2005.

The BAZ further stated that "Radio Dialogue" had failed to meet other requirements for a licence in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) which state that no broadcasting service or signal transmission station will be licensed if it is wholly or partly funded by foreign donations or contributions.

"Radio Dialogue" had in its application stated that funding for the radio station was going to be backed by foreign non-governmental organisations.

According to BAZ, the radio station had failed to show its shareholding structure in terms of BSA and that the list of its equipment does not include the technical specifications of the equipment.

"The Authority is therefore unable to check for compliance with the technical standards prescribed by the regulations.

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