Introduction and background
Great Zimbabwe University Campus Radio Station was established in 2018 and operates a vibrant student-run service and produces radio programmes with the objective of catering not only to the students and staff but also the broader community of Masvingo where the university’s several campuses are located. The station is the first ever Campus Radio to be established in Zimbabwe and was officially licensed to operate by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe. GZU Campus Radio is the pacesetter in broadcasting innovation and training and is a vehicle through which the university, shares expertise to solve existential problems and offer solutions from innovations through research.
Technology
The majority of programmes are produced and aired on state-of-the-art broadcasting studio which is located in the Central Business Dstrict of Masvingo. Through partnerships with Transmedia and Econet, the station has managed to distribute its signal in hitherto uncharted territory, In Masvingo province , Chivi, Nyika, Bikita, Gutu, Royi, Nemamwa, Mashava, Zvishavane , Shurugwi , Chatsworth and in the Lowveld where the footprint is on Chitsanga Hill in Chiredzi. From there, the whole town of Chiredzi and surrounding areas such as Mkwasine, Save, Gonarenzou, Chambuta, Chigwedziva, Chilonga, Chingele, Mpapa, Triangle, Hippo Valey, Buffalo range and many resettled areas around these places can be reached as is demonstrated by audience participation and feedback systems which the station has put into place.
Transmission and reach
The flagship channel, Campus Radio Station is available on Frequency Modulation (FM) 89.5 in Masvingo and surrounding areas, FM 100.4 in Mashava and Chiredzi on FM 90.0 Megahertz. From our audience research since inception, the station is most popular in Masvingo, Chiredzi, Mashava and surrounding areas as measured by interaction with members of the audience. Also to note, GZU Campus Radio is also available online on www.gzu.ac.zw/station/gzucampusradio, and on Radio Garden and/or ZENO FM.
Meet Your Director
GZU Campus Radio’s founding and current director Mr Golden Maunganidze has over fifteen years’ experience working in the Zimbabwean media industry as a Journalist, Editor, University Lecturer and Publisher. He has vast experience working with both academia and the media civic society in Zimbabwe and in the SADC region. He is also the current national (Zimbabwe) and regional (SADC) Board Chairman for the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). Maunganidze is also the president of Zimbabwe Journalism Educators Network (ZIJEN). He is a recipient of several prestigious media and leadership fellowships held in USA, Germany, Sweden and Netherlands. He has trained media practitioners on a variety of themes such as peace journalism, community broadcasting, election reporting and safety as well as security of journalists in Zimbabwe, DRC, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa. He is currently pursuing PhD studies in Journalism with University of Johannesburg (UJ).
Station Manager: Dr Last Alfandika
Last Alfandika is a dynamic Media Communications Specialist and a seasoned media professional with a deep-rooted passion for the power of radio. As a dedicated researcher and station manager, he brings a unique blend of academic insights and practical industry experience to the role. With a keen eye for audience trends and a strategic approach to content development, he has successfully led Great Zimbabwe University Campus Radio to increased listenership and community impact. Equipped with a Ph.D. in Media Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as a GZU Campus Radio Station Manager and is committed to staying at the forefront of the evolving media landscape. Through rigorous research and data-driven decision-making, he has developed innovative programming strategies that resonate with audiences and drive station growth. Beyond the managerial role, he is a passionate advocate for the role of radio in fostering community engagement and social change and teach courses in Media and Cultural Studies.