Faith Ndou
Chiredzi based community radio station Avuxeni FM has made a remarkable mark after scooping three prestigious accolades at the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) awards held at Rainbow Towers in Bulawayo on Thursday night.
The Chiredzi-based station walked away with Best Community Radio Station of the Year, Best Environment Reporting and the Gender Equality Award, cementing its growing reputation as a voice of the community.
Speaking after the historic awards, station manager Pretty Dhlamini expressed excitement over the recognition.
“Being recognised and appreciated for our work means a lot. It’s something big for us as a station and it shows the hard work and trust we have built with our community,” she said.
Avuxeni FM which officially launched in 2022 after initially going on air in 2021, operates from Chiredzi town broadcasting on frequencies 93.9 FM in Chiredzi and 97.3 FM in Chikombedzi.
The station is still working towards expanding its reach to Rutenga and Malipati, pending funding.
Dhlamini attributed the awards largely to programmes focusing on gender and environmental issues which resonate strongly with the local community.
“We live with these issues every day, so we try by all means to raise awareness through our programming,” she said.
She emphasised that the station’s success is deeply rooted in community participation.
“Our listeners are our backbone. As a community radio, we do not buy content. The community are the owners of the station and they contribute to every programme. These awards belong to them,” she added.
Looking ahead, Dhlamini said the recognition has motivated the station to improve further.
“This is not just about winning awards. It has shown us areas where we need to work harder and improve,” she said.
