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Joram Gumbo

Bruce Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
TWO years after it made its debut on the airwaves, Zvishavane based commercial radio station, YaFM, has managed to live up to its promise of being the voice of mining communities along the Great Dyke.

This was the observation made by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister and Mberengwa West Constituency Member of Parliament, Joram Gumbo, while he was addressing delegates who gathered in Mberengwa for the station’s second anniversary celebrations recently.

Gumbo said the commitment to give the miners a voice that spoke to and about them was made by the founders of YaFM two years ago, as they pledged to give a rich and rewarding radio experience to the people of the mineral rich region known as the Great Dyke.

“There was a pledge that the radio station would be a true representative of the people of this region and not a camouflage for some sinister motives by those who wish to see us divided.

“I am most gratified that as of now, YaFM has lived up to this promise. Our hope is that this will continue into the future,” said Gumbo.

As the miner’s voice, the station has been earmarked to spearhead gold mobilisation efforts, a move hailed by various stakeholders.

“I recently advised that they bring a team from the country’s primary gold buyer Fidelity Printers and Refiners to speak to the people of our region about the new incentives available to our small scale miners. I’m told in a few weeks’ time they’ll be joining Fidelity on various road shows targeting Zvishavane, Mberengwa, Filabusi and Gwanda among other places,” said Gumbo.

He went on to urge business people in the region to support the station saying without the support of the local businesses, chances are the station will struggle to fulfil its mandate and may never live up to its full potential.

In times of economic distress, Gumbo said, some businesses choose to remain anonymous and yet research has shown that entities that shy away from advertising die a slow and painful death. “You are thus encouraged to advertise and be known whatever the times. If the problem is about advertising rates, surely these can be discussed. Our intention as Government is to see business in this region growing to become not only competitive nationally but joining those that export products to other countries. God gave us the land and minerals which we are obliged to utilise,” Gumbo said.

The Minister described YaFM as a development oriented station that has assisted the community in times of need by sharing relevant information.

YaFM chairman Munyaradzi Hwengwere expressed his appreciation to the local chiefs, advertisers and the general community for embracing the station and supporting it as the first regional commercial broadcaster to operate in Zimbabwe.

He said the latest ZAMPS survey has shown YaFM to be a leading station in Masvingo and Midlands provinces.

“It is our desire to increase our coverage in areas within our vicinity particularly the peripheral regions of Mberengwa. We do not see ourselves as a Zvishavane radio station but a voice of miners across the Great Dyke,” said Hwengwere.