A Tale of Failure

Using the electronic colonialism theory and globalisation approach, the study reflects on the distinctive features of indigenous language radio broadcasting stations in Zimbabwe. This is done in an effort to establish how the prevailing radio broadcasting landscape is limiting the use of minority languages in this multilingual nation. Studies reveal the importance of indigenous languages and expound on how radio broadcasting can effectively enhance indigenous languages revitalisation processes. However, due to the previous and current political contexts in Zimbabwe, indigenous language radio broadcasting has continued to create an atmosphere where minority languages are not given necessary recognition, leading to their exclusion from most of the existing radio stations. Qualitative data were collected using three instruments, namely interviews, focus groups discussions and document analysis. Findings reveal that most indigenous languages in Zimbabwe have never been developed beyond their oral use by speakers in their confined locations. This makes any effort to use these languages for broadcasting a serious challenge since speakers and non-speakers do not value these languages. The government’s stringent Broadcasting Services Act of 2001 (BSA) has also made the usage of radio broadcasting in preserving minority languages an almost impossible task. It is the contention of this paper that no positive change is possible to radio broadcasting if the existing BSA is not revisited, in order to broaden the broadcasting landscape so as to introduce community stations which can broadcast to specific communities in indigenous languages spoken in those areas. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2391

Broadcasting (networking · Computer security · Government (linguistics · Indigenous · Indigenous language · Linguistics · Political science · Radio broadcasting · Sociology · Telecommunications · Value (mathematics · Communication Studies and Media · Computer Science · Media Studies and Communication

• Interdisciplinarity and Indigenous Language Media

  Phillip Mpofu, Abiodun Salawu•Language Matters•2018

  Añadir item

• Mainstream English Language Press Journalists’ Perceptions Towards the Indigenous-Language Press in Zimbabwe

  Albert Chibuwe, Abiodun Salawu et al.•African Journalism Studies•2020

  Añadir item

• The Tonga People of Northern Zimbabwe

  Gift Gwindingwe, Last Alfandika et al.•African Journalism Studies•2018

  Añadir item

• The Use of English and the National Language on the Radio in asean Countries

  Open Access•Amara Prasithrathsint, Kusuma Thongniam et al.•Manusya Journal of Humanities•2019

  Añadir item

• Training for English language or indigenous language media journalism

  Albert Chibuwe, Abiodun Salawu•Journal of African Media Studies•2020

  Añadir item

• Reconceptualising multilingualism on African radio

  Open Access•Limukani Mathe, Gilbert Motsaathebe•International Journal of…•2024

  Añadir item

• Challenging hegemony in the Global South

  Open Access•Aniruddha Jena, A Sieverts-Jena et al.•Third World Quarterly•2026

  Añadir item

• African multilingual public sphere

  Limukani Mathe, Gilbert Motsaathebe•African Identities•2025

  Añadir item

• The Evolution of Agenda-Setting Research

  Open Access•Maxwell E Mccombs, Maxwell Mccombs et al.•Journal of Communication•1993

  Añadir item