Back to Index

Radio station jammed
MISA-Zimbabwe
July 04, 2006

SW Radio Africa reports that its broadcast has been jammed, allegedly by the Zimbabwe government, since Monday 26 June. This is not the first time SW radio Africa has faced a similar problem. According to Gerry Jackson, the Station Manager of SW Radio Africa, the latest jamming of its broadcast is part of efforts to block SW Radio Africa reaching Zimbabweans with alternative information on developments in Zimbabwe.

The jamming of SW Radio Africa is being done simultaneously with that of Voice of America's Studio 7 medium wave broadcasts. According to Jackson, the latest jamming is focused on the capital city, Harare, as broadcasts are still accessible in other parts of the country.

Short wave broadcasts of SW Radio Africa were also blocked last year ahead of the March parliamentary elections and the much condemned Operation Murambatsvina which left almost one million people homeless without a source of income. Jamming of the airwaves last year was executed, allegedly, through the use of Chinese equipment.

Jackson deplored this move as further moves to stifle the enjoyment of media and freedom of expression rights by the citizens of Zimbabwe.

"We protest this further attack attempting, once again, to deny Zimbabweans the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression," said Gerry Jackson.

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has, since its establishment in 2001, failed to issue licenses to private broadcasters. This has led to several stations beaming on Zimbabwe on short and medium wave from beyond the country's borders.

Visit the MISA-Zimbabwe fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP