Ng’umbo FM Radio is expected to promote economic growth as local entrepreneurs and traders will have an opportunity to discuss and advertise their products and services.
Lubwe, July 7 – The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has granted Ng’umbo FM Radio a commercial content service provider licence to broadcast in Chifunabuli and surrounding areas.
The IBA offer is effective the 1st of August, 2023 and is valid for a period of five (5) years.
And when contacted for comment on the development, Hon. Eng. Peter Chibwe Kapala, the Minister of Energy and patron of the Peter Kapala Foundation, confirmed that the radio station should be operational in the last quarter of this year.
“We are pushing to start this year, at the most by December 2023. We are going to speed up the construction of the studio building, which is at ground floor level, and equally speed up the purchasing of the studio equipment. The radio transmission equipment and transmission mast are already in place,” Eng. Kapala said.
Also Read: A day with Eng. Peter Chibwe Kapala.
The Peter Kapala Foundation, in giving back to the community, has embarked on various development programmes. The radio station is one of the four major on-going projects by the Foundation in the area, the other three being:
◾The first ever fuel service station in Chifunabuli,
◾The first ever Pharmacy in Chifunabuli, and;
◾The first ever rice processing mill in Chifunabuli.
The Ng’umbo FM Radio is a major step forward as it has potential to address several social economic development challenges in and around the District.
Ng’umbo FM Radio will emphasise direct communication with the Chifunabuli audience and will put Chifunabuli issues first, giving a voice to the voiceless in Chifunabuli District and the surrounding areas.
Listeners will certainly be empowered to express their opinions on what matters to them as the station will prioritise informing people about what is happening in Chifunabuli.
Using the local language will also ensure that people who are not able to speak English, for example, are not left out like they are with most commercial radio stations.
It will also give those people who don’t speak English a sense of independence as they are able to consume the information without having to rely on someone to translate.
Also Read: The Peter Kapala Foundation breathes hope in Chifunabuli.
Besides creating employment, the station is expected to promote economic growth as local entrepreneurs and traders will have an opportunity to discuss and advertise their products and services. By promoting local businesses, it will subsequently put more money into the local economy.
Another area of great benefit is the station’s ability to preserve the Ng’umbo culture and traditions by retelling traditional stories. For example, a “Voices of Ancestors” programme can feature elders telling stories of their Ng’umbo ancestors and pass on traditional customs.
These retelling of stories is a way of passing down traditional information down to the younger generations. This then ensures that the local culture and traditions are continually being talked about, thereby keeping them preserved.
Have Your Say: What are your expectations from Ng’umbo FM Radio and why do you think it’s important to have a community radio station? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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