The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
MUTARE’s one and only commercial radio station, Diamond FM has spread its wings to cover Chipinge and Chimanimani districts in a milestone development that has received overwhelming response.
The station is now on air in the two districts at FM 107.5 on FM Dial.
The station manager, Jabulani “JB” Mangezi, said in an interview: “We are very excited that the Diamond FM brand, which is under the Radio Broadcasting Division of the Zimpapers Group, has spread its wings to broadcast into Chimanimani and Chipinge districts on 107.5FM. This is in keeping with our objectives of bringing radio closer to the people and as a regional station. Our content both in news, current affairs and continuity programming is tailor made to speak to the aspirations of all the people of Manicaland, to promote local culture and more so to excite conversations around the challenges within our communities while also educating and entertaining our listeners,” said Mangezi.
Chipinge-based and Chimanimani-based listeners interviewed said they were elated by the development.
“It was long overdue and we are happy that the radio is finally here with us.
This is a development we have been waiting for. We strongly believe that we will have more programmes that will focus on what will be happening around us, from entertainment to developmental issues. We also want to be heard and participate on various programmes. It is also exciting to note that there are several presenters who articulately speak in our Ndau language,” said Mwandichiya Dube who hails from Chimanimani.
Tendai Sigauke of Chipinge said: “We are excited by this development coming as the Government is talking about devolution and this in a way promotes local arts and languages. Local issues will now be highlighted straight from the source in real time thereby enabling quick reaction by decision makers. A case in point is the recent Cyclone Idai disaster that ravaged the area. Its effects could have been mitigated had the community had access to radio for ease of information dissemination. But above all this is an exciting development.”
Miss Marygold Thondlana of Gaza in Chipinge expressed her elation in vernacular: “Tinobonga yaamho ngeku xabangiwa. Zvinobaadakadzisa. (We are very grateful for being remembered as a people and overjoyed.)”
