Six radio stations yet to broadcast

Former MISA National Director : Tsebo Matsasa

Six radio stations yet to broadcast

Ezekiel Morake

The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) has issued over 27 FM frequencies for radio broadcasting since it took regulatory mandate in the late 1990’s but only 21 radio stations were operating.

The spokesman of LCA Tsiu Tsiu said the six radio stations which had been issued with licenses are yet to open their doors, amongst them a station belonging to Mohale Media which is owned by Lesotho Times publisher, Basildon Peta, a Zimbabwean based in South Africa. Tsiu said there was a huge demand for the Frequency Modulation band wave by businessmen living Maseru. He explained that in 1984 countries in the SADC region signed for the FM signals for new radio stations and at the time there was only Radio Lesotho.

Radio Lesotho is a state owned broadcaster of which is yet to be turned into a public broadcaster as is ideally required. Tsiu was addressing the media at Media Institute of Southern Africa- Lesotho (MISA) on Valentine’s Day. He said both countries Lesotho and South Africa had agreed to share the FM signals but there was a new innovation of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) frequency of which radio stations can apply for because it was cheaper and affordable. DAB can be accessed by new radio sets which are able to receive and disseminate digital signal.

Many presenters or people running such radio stations expressed their frustrations regarding the operating costs of the radio stations of which many don’t pay their on-air-talent. The issue of producers was highlighted at the MISA discussion whereby much is not done to make sure that the personnel is retained and paid well.

Speakers said the radio stations only gave opportunities to presenters who also double as producers of the programmes which are more political than anything.

MiSA Chairman Boitumelo Koloi said radio was an important medium of delivering and sharing news and messages. He said radio stations should push for media diversity so that every sector of the society can feel welcomed. Koloi made a plea that women and children should be given an opportunity to host such shows and have the programs that talk to these diverse groups.

“We are excited to have so many different radio stations at this gathering. We want the newsrooms to have diverse personalities so that women and children could have an opportunity to play a role in the media space. We believe that after the National Reforms we would have programs that talk to a diverse group of people and our profession would be professionalized,” said Koloi.

The spokesman of Lesotho National Insurance Group (LNIG) Qamako Mahao said media played a pivotal role in disseminating the information to the public and that there could not be a business that could thrive without the use of media. Mahao said LNIG was an insurance company which was started by Basotho taxes and was working for Basotho to have insurance policies that can help the people in education, pension and even when death had occurred. He said his company was supporting journalists by offering them awards for best business reporters.

Meanwhile, UNESCO representative Mats’ooana Sekokotoana said the mandate of UNESCO was to support the implementation of government policies by funding such projects. She said radio stations should welcome diversity of opinions and personnel’s. Sekokotoana said many radio stations in the country were focusing more on controversial party politics depriving the society of important information. She challenged the radio stations to have a diverse programming and content.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Communications Mabotle Damane said her ministry was going to shut down radio stations that are failing to pay for the radio transmitters which are connected with Radio Lesotho transmitters. All commercial and community radio stations have to pay to the radio broadcast signal so that they could reach a wider audience in Lesotho. Damane said there was a need for regulation of social media.

Ultimate FM presenter Lesaoana Lesupi better known as ‘LLCOOLB’ said radio was regarded as a lucrative business which can make millions but it was not the case in Lesotho as many radio stations struggled to get advertisements from South African companies operating in Lesotho.

Former Mopheme newspaper owner Lawrence Keketso bemoaned the fact that there was general neglect of producers of programs on radio as much attention was given to presenters only. He said that the neglect of producers and other role actors in the radio industry compromised the output of the programs so much that people would discuss one issue for three hours in a program.

Bokamoso 974 FM Programme’s Manager Tumelo Mokete said the biggest challenge for radio station in Lesotho was that Lesedi FM was also broadcasting throughout the country yet it was a foreign SABC radio. And those advertisers who are originally from South Africa preferred Lesedi FM over local radio stations which struggle to make any revenue.

LCA has categorized the radios stations into four categorize which are private, community, public and Commercial radio stations. Many of which have prioritized political talk on the prime shows in the morning and afternoon until early evenings.