Results from this study show
that radio is the most accessed
and relied upon news source
for most citizens, with 56% of
the surveyed adult population
reporting that they listen to it “a
few times a week/every day”.
This confirms previous studies
by Afrobarometer (2022) [7]
which noted that radio has long
been Africa’s most widely used
mass media.
A previous study by MISA
Zimbabwe and KAF in 2020
showed that radio is still
the
primary
medium
of
communication accessed by most
media consumers in Zimbabwe.
According
to
the
Afrobarometer study, 68% of
respondents say they use it
at least a few times a week,
including 45% who listen daily [8].
According to Afrobarometer
(2023), radio remains Zimbabwe’s
top media news source at 65%,
while social media has passed
television to claim second at 41%,
television at 28%, the internet at

25%, and print newspapers at 8%
.

[9]

Local language broadcasts
also draw radio listeners [10],
which are available in Shona,
isiNdebele, and 12 other official
but regional languages on
Zimbabwe's national radio, as
well as a number of community
stations.
Despite
social
media’s
contemporary competition in
terms of news access, radio
has retained its comparative
advantage in this regard.
According to the Voice of
America (2023),[11] although
social media threatens radio’s
dominance
among
young,
urban and educated residents in
Zimbabwe, radio is still the most
popular news source.

Afrobarometer (2023) reports
that during the previous 10
years, the percentage of people
who acquire news at least “a few
times a week” through social
media, the internet, or both has
nearly doubled, rising from 24%
to 43% [12].
However, digital media should
be viewed as a partner that
improves and broadens the
reach of radio material to more
people rather than as a threat
to the existence of radio uses in
Zimbabwe.
This is due to the decline in
mobile phone prices, which
may expand access to FM radio
stations.

Digital
media
usage
is
expanding quickly, offering both
new potential and challenges.

The
growing
accessibility
of mobile phones has made it
possible for radio and digital
mobile technologies, particularly
mobile phones, to continue to
converge.

As internet usage increases
across Africa, radio listening
habits are shifting.

Afrobarometer asserts that “the
mobile phone is the future of
radio in Africa” [13].

9

Select target paragraph3