SECTOR 3

There are no exemptions for community broadcasters, and like the commercial
stations, they have to pay K3400 to ZICTA for a frequency and K1000 to the
Ministry of Information for a licence. “To start a community radio station, you
have to have a minimum K60,000 in your account before you even can be
considered at the application stage.” “In other words, a poor man cannot own
a radio station.”
Notably, at the behest of members of parliament (MPs), several small community
stations have been set up in their constituencies with resources acquired from the
Constituency Development Fund (CDF). While the MPs are allowed to facilitate the
creation of these stations, they may not be involved in terms of the management
of these stations. It was opined that this trend “seems to be done just for pointscoring to make it seem they are taking development to their constituencies,
but the ‘communities still benefit’.” Examples where stations have been created
through the CDF include Muchinga, Katete in the Eastern Province, Radio Chikayi
in Mukushi, and a station in Feira constituency.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

2.8
(2011:2.0; 2009:1.8; 2007:2.1; 2005:2.1)

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2013

49

Select target paragraph3