Zimbabwe [and non]
With Zimbabwe in the news, here are the current schedules of the three SW stations that specifically beam into the country from abroad:
All times UTC
Studio 7 (VOA)- Mondays-Fridays:
1700-1730 in Shona on 909, 4930, 11605, 15775.
1730-1800 in English on 909, 4930, 11605, 15775.
1800-1830 in Ndebele on 909, 4930, 11605, 15775.
1830-1900 in Shona on 11605, 15775.
1900-1930 in English on 11605, 15775.
1930-2000 in Ndebele on 11605, 15775.
Studio 7 (VOA)- Saturdays and Sundays:
1700-1720 in Shona on 909, 4930, 11605, 15775.
1720-1740 in English on 909, 4930, 11605, 15775.
1740-1800 in Ndebele on 909, 4930, 11605, 15775.
1800-1820 in Shona on 11605, 15775.
1820-1840 in English on 11605, 15775.
1840-1900 in Ndebele on 11605, 15775.
SW Radio Africa:
1700-1900 on 4880 and 12035.
Unfortunately 12035 is a weak signal (from Rampisham, and so beamed away from the UK [500kW, 140deg]) and is squeezed between two strong Voices of Russia on 12030 and 12040.
Radio Voice of the People (VOP) [via Madagascar
0400-0500 on 11610.
1100-1200 on 11695.
1700-1800 on 7120.
(Chris Greenway-UK, BrDXC-UK June 30)
3395 ZBC at 2205 UT with talks by woman SINPO 33333.
(Zacharias Liangas-GRC, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 21)
Authorities in Zimbabwe have banned wind-up receivers, a favourite among non-governmental organisations seeking to promote access to information in rural areas. Their presence has often spawned listening clubs accused of tuning in on "illegal" foreign news bulletins broadcast on shortwave. Batteries are almost unavailable in Zimbabwe.
Along with satellite dishes, ownership of a wind-up radio is enough to land villagers in trouble. "They have been warned that they must hand in those radios. It has become a subversive tool," says Rob Jamieson, chairperson of the Southern Africa Editors' Forum. "It is quite shocking to see the situation in Zimbabwe. No professional media in Zimbabwe can operate," says Jamieson, who was part of a week-long mission that went to Zimbabwe.
(ZW News via Southgate Amateur Radio Club; via WDXC Contact magazine June)
From a back room in a London commuter town, a secret radio station is broadcasting the voice Robert Mugabe's government doesn't want his people to hear.
The SW Radio Africa studio.
It's a constant battle, but exiled Zimbabweans are fighting to ensure SW Radio Africa's programmes reach their compatriots back in Africa.
Station manager Gerry Jackson started the station in Harare in 2000, but it was quickly shut down by the government. Since then she and her team have struggled on in the UK against attempts to block the transmission.
"It regularly jams broadcasts using Chinese equipment and expertise. We get around that by going on additional frequencies," she said.
Current affairs programmes and talk shows reach their home country on shortwave and over the internet, targeting people in rural areas in particular. A special programme called 'Callback' gives ordinary people in Zimbabwe the chance to describe the day-to-day horrors of living under Robert Mugabe's regime.
"They're desperate to speak, they're desperate to have their voice heard," Ms Jackson explained.
"They're desperate for the world to know what is going on, because they feel let down by the world community, particularly the regional countries who they feel have left them to suffer terrible violence and torture at the hands of the government."
Most people in Zimbabwe can't afford to call in, so the radio station provides a local mobile phone to text in contact details. Producers in the UK then call people back - although it's not easy getting through to a country where mobile phone signals are often blocked. There is also an element of risk for the programme's participants, many of whom prefer to stay anonymous.
"People are being made to feel afraid, but the opposition is very much alive,' said Callback presenter Mandsi Mundawarara.
"People are clinging to the hope that the opposition will one day take over the country and they see a brighter future for themselves and for Zimbabwe."
Zimbabweans who do have the courage to air their views tell of their frustration at the recent election. "They wrote our names down and then we were sent to vote," reported an unidentified caller from Zimbabwe.
"Then we were told to say to the polling agent that we were blind or couldn't write. The polling agent would say who do you want to vote for and obviously I would say Robert Mugabe. Then they said if they see any evidence you voted for MDC they would check on the list and go around beating everyone who is MDC supporter."
Despite these strong messages coming through the airwaves, SW Radio Africa's journalists have only seen change for the worse in Zimbabwe in their eight years of broadcasting. (Zacharias Liangas-GRC, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 2)
(Source: WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #867 via wb, Germany)
0400-0500 on 11610.
1100-1200 on 11695.
1700-1800 on 7120.
(Chris Greenway-UK, BrDXC-UK June 30)
3395 ZBC at 2205 UT with talks by woman SINPO 33333.
(Zacharias Liangas-GRC, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 21)
Authorities in Zimbabwe have banned wind-up receivers, a favourite among non-governmental organisations seeking to promote access to information in rural areas. Their presence has often spawned listening clubs accused of tuning in on "illegal" foreign news bulletins broadcast on shortwave. Batteries are almost unavailable in Zimbabwe.
Along with satellite dishes, ownership of a wind-up radio is enough to land villagers in trouble. "They have been warned that they must hand in those radios. It has become a subversive tool," says Rob Jamieson, chairperson of the Southern Africa Editors' Forum. "It is quite shocking to see the situation in Zimbabwe. No professional media in Zimbabwe can operate," says Jamieson, who was part of a week-long mission that went to Zimbabwe.
(ZW News via Southgate Amateur Radio Club; via WDXC Contact magazine June)
From a back room in a London commuter town, a secret radio station is broadcasting the voice Robert Mugabe's government doesn't want his people to hear.
The SW Radio Africa studio.
It's a constant battle, but exiled Zimbabweans are fighting to ensure SW Radio Africa's programmes reach their compatriots back in Africa.
Station manager Gerry Jackson started the station in Harare in 2000, but it was quickly shut down by the government. Since then she and her team have struggled on in the UK against attempts to block the transmission.
"It regularly jams broadcasts using Chinese equipment and expertise. We get around that by going on additional frequencies," she said.
Current affairs programmes and talk shows reach their home country on shortwave and over the internet, targeting people in rural areas in particular. A special programme called 'Callback' gives ordinary people in Zimbabwe the chance to describe the day-to-day horrors of living under Robert Mugabe's regime.
"They're desperate to speak, they're desperate to have their voice heard," Ms Jackson explained.
"They're desperate for the world to know what is going on, because they feel let down by the world community, particularly the regional countries who they feel have left them to suffer terrible violence and torture at the hands of the government."
Most people in Zimbabwe can't afford to call in, so the radio station provides a local mobile phone to text in contact details. Producers in the UK then call people back - although it's not easy getting through to a country where mobile phone signals are often blocked. There is also an element of risk for the programme's participants, many of whom prefer to stay anonymous.
"People are being made to feel afraid, but the opposition is very much alive,' said Callback presenter Mandsi Mundawarara.
"People are clinging to the hope that the opposition will one day take over the country and they see a brighter future for themselves and for Zimbabwe."
Zimbabweans who do have the courage to air their views tell of their frustration at the recent election. "They wrote our names down and then we were sent to vote," reported an unidentified caller from Zimbabwe.
"Then we were told to say to the polling agent that we were blind or couldn't write. The polling agent would say who do you want to vote for and obviously I would say Robert Mugabe. Then they said if they see any evidence you voted for MDC they would check on the list and go around beating everyone who is MDC supporter."
Despite these strong messages coming through the airwaves, SW Radio Africa's journalists have only seen change for the worse in Zimbabwe in their eight years of broadcasting. (Zacharias Liangas-GRC, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 2)
(Source: WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #867 via wb, Germany)