Alpha Media Holdings Applies For A Radio Licence

AMH which is owned by media mogul Trevor Ncube who also publishes the Mail and Guardian weekly in South Africa applied for the radio licence late last month.

In a notice run in the Newsday newspaper, Carryslot Investments (Pvt) Ltd applied for a “Free to air commercial radio licence” in Harare and the address is No.1 Union Avenue Buildings, Block three.

“Any person who wishes to comment on the application may, within fourteen days of the date of publication of this notice , contact the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe,” the notice run in the Newsday newspaper read.

The application by AMH for a radio licence comes as the state owned Zimbabwe Newspaper Group (Zimpapers) which owns over five newspapers was awarded a radio licence by the BAZ.

Zimpapers which is government owned and controlled was awarded a radio licence by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) together with AB communications which is headed by Supa Mandiwanzira, a known Zanu PF and President Robert Mugabe supporter.

The other aspiring radio stations that were denied licences are Hot Media (Kiss FM) and Vox Media (VOP FM).

Zimpapers is planning to go on air end of this month and will be doing auditions for radio presenters, radio news readers and radio disk jockeys on March 7 this week according to an advert published in state media.

The MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said the radio licences which were awarded the BAZ which is headed by Tafataona Mahoso is “null and void” but from the look of it, Zim Talk radio is set to start broadcasting soon.

Tsvangirai  said Zimpapers interest to get into the broadcasting sector was selfish as it owns most newspapers in the print sector. Zimpapers owns The Herald, The Sunday Mail, Chronicle, Manica Post, Sunday News, H  Metro and B Hetro and Kwayedza among a list of its publications that include magazines.

The awarding of licences to companies which are linked to Zanu PF has been seen as a latest attempt by Mugabe’s party to mantain its hold on media outlets as the country gears to hold elections after a constitutional referendum.