People from Musina and the surrounding areas woke up to the sounds of a new radio station on Sunday, 5 February. Community radio station Lotsha FM hit the airwaves for the first time after Beitbridge Shashe Community Radio Broadcasting Services had finally acquired its broadcasting licence from the Zimbabwean authorities.
Found on 90.1FM, Lotsha FM operates from Beitbridge town in Zimbabwe, under the auspices of the Broadcasting Association of Zimbabwe. The radio station has a strong signal in the Musina area, and its programmes are mainly presented in Tshivenda, one of the most spoken languages in the town of Beitbridge in Zimbabwe.
Takalani Rambuvha, a resident from Nancefield in Musina, is very impressed with the new radio station. "We are happy that we can now listen to Lotsha FM here in Musina. On their first day of broadcasting, they talked about many things that are happening in Musina. People from Musina were also calling in after the lines were opened. Of more importance is that the radio station broadcasts in pure Tshivenda, our own language," he said excitedly.
The chairperson of the board tasked to ensure that Lotsha FM becomes a reality, Mr Mekia Muyambo, said the development was a great one for the surrounding areas. "It was not an easy task to take on. We had to ensure the station operated as per the licence issued by our government. We thank everyone involved in making sure that Lotsha FM became a reality," he said.
The board's secretary, Mr Mbongeleni Muleya, said Lotsha FM would be launched officially in Beitbridge town next Monday (13 February), during International Radio Day. "The radio station will mostly assist the rural community, who previously had little or no access to radio broadcasts. We will work hard to provide current information and get news from other areas in Zimbabwe and the neighbouring South Africa, especially in Musina, where we have a strong frequency. We will also focus on developing contemporary farming skills through educational programmes, reviving our culture, language and Tshivenda traditions through school radio lessons," said Muleya.