Star FM, Zimbabwe premier commercial radio went on air Monday ending a 3-decade domination by a state-controlled broadcaster.
Zimpapers, Zimbabwe’s top newspaper, which according to the Daily Nation publishes titles loyal to President Robert Mugabe, owns Star FM.
The radio was granted one of the two national licenses by the country’s broadcasting authority seven months back amid condemnations that the negotiation processes were unfair to the private players.
The authority further granted the second license to a businessman, who the Daily Nation reports is closely linked to Zanu PF, President Mugabe’s party.
The body turned down applications by three other independent broadcasters.
The stations new head Admire Taderera said the new radio is not state-owned and does not receive funding from the government.
He added that the radio makes its own money from advertising.
Star FM will be limited to the country’s major cities including Bulawayo and Harare for the first three months.
Zimpapers is a publisher of the nation’s eight major newspapers including the Herald and the Sunday Mail, which, according to the Daily Nation, are fiercely loyal to President Mugabe’s party.
President Mugabe’s inclusive government has tussled over the media reforms since it was formed three years ago, reports the Daily Nation.
