Zimpapers Logo

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
BREEZE FM proprietors have asked the Victoria Falls community to be patient, preferring to remain mum on the radio station’s launch date.

The commercial radio station was licensed to start broadcasting in the resort town last year, but licence holder – Fairtalk Communications – seems to be facing difficulties.

Fairtalk chief executive officer Qhubani Moyo said they were still setting up the station and would only shed more light when they are done.

“We’ve decided not to give any comments until we’re very clear on when we’ll start broadcasting,” said Moyo.

“In any event, we’re still within the prescribed government licensing regulations which stipulate that we should go on air within 18 months of licensing”.

This comes after artistes and residents in Victoria Falls communicated that they felt Breeze FM management had let them down by not updating them on the cause of delay. In June last year, it seemed promising as the station conducted auditions and shortlisted 25 aspiring presenters, DJs and news anchors for further auditions.

The station’s management had indicated they would go on air in September last year, but alas, that never happened.

The Government has also expressed its concern saying it was worried by the failure of seven commercial radio stations it licensed last year to start broadcasting. Of the seven, only two – Diamond FM (Mutare) and YA FM (Zvishavane) have successfully started broadcasting.

If launched, this will be the first radio station that will cater specifically for the Victoria Falls community and those within its 40km radius.

For years, residents in the resort town have been subjected to Zambian radio stations and Studio 7 which broadcasts from Washington DC.

Breeze FM is a sister station to Skyz Metro FM which is also yet to go on air. Skyz Metro FM is meant to operate in Bulawayo.

Other stations which are finding the going tough are Faya FM, Hevoi, KE100.4 FM and Nyaminyami FM.