Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa last week challenged Chiredzi traditional leaders to utilize Avuxeni community radio station to promote their cultural values which are slowly being eroded by Westernization as well as help in castigating traditions that encourage child marriages and suppressing the rights of women.
Last week the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services held World Radio Day commemorations at Tshovani Stadium, in Chiredzi where they officially commissioned Avuxeni Community Radio station, the first community radio station in Zimbabwe to have gone on air covering Chiredzi district as well as Rutenga and Mwenezi.
Speaking during the commemorations Minister Mutsvangwa challenged Chiefs to take the opportunity to promote their cultural heritage that is slowly deteriorating due to globalization and westernization.
“Chiefs, Avuxeni Community Radio was brought for you to help in promotion of your cultural heritage and traditions so that people, especially youths will understand the importance of their cultural values, where we came from and are heading. This will also help preserve our culture as we need to pass on our cultural heritage from one generation to the other.
“We also have other traditional issues that chiefs need to castigate which include child marriages and those that suppress the rights of women, who are always being abused by their husbands,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She also highlighted that Avuxeni community radio has a role to play in the unification of communities, where children will be taught to respect their elders.
Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) National and Regional Chairperson, Golden Maunganidze who is also the Great Zimbabwe University Campus Radio Director applauded government for licensing community radio stations which he said will help in promoting community development through broadcasting in their vernacular languages.
“We are happy with what government is doing in licensing community radio stations, like today we are celebrating Avuxeni community radio here in Chiredzi with other community radios which were licensed last year. This is a very important gesture, which, as Chiredzi community should celebrate.
“Avuxeni can now broadcast in Xhangani and other local languages and this is going to promote development and all licensed community radios will bring development in their respective areas whereby communities will find solutions to problems they are facing,” said Maunganidze.
Xhangani is among the cultures that have managed to keep their culture and heritage in one place while other traditions have been corroded by globalisation.
