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Please help us save SWRadio Africa
Violet Gonda & Tererai Karimakwenda
June 10, 2005

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/10-june-2005/save-swr.html

LONDON - The situation facing SWRadio Africa is deeper than it appears on the surface. It has ramifications for freedom of the press not only in Zimbabwe, but also in the region and the continent at large.

African leaders, led by Thabo Mbeki, have been selling democracy, good governance and respect for human rights to the international community as a basis for investing in Africa. If they do not censure leaders like Robert Mugabe and insist on every country respecting democratic principles, including freedom of the press, they should be isolated and made an example of what bad governance is about.

Mugabe has extended his evil tentacles beyond his borders by creating a newspaper with Namibia’s cooperation late last year and, more recently, it’s reported that a new internet radio station in the United States is promoting his agenda. He is also reportedly planning to open a radio station and an edition of The Herald in South Africa to force his propaganda on the millions who have fled from his abuses back home.

Yet SWRadio Africa has been denied a platform by neighbouring countries who say we cannot beam our signal from within their territories because they deem it politically incorrect to speak against their brother - even though it would be the right thing to do.

On a personal level, we speak to Zimbabweans on a daily basis and hear tragic stories from individuals who are only too glad to be able to share their suffering with anyone prepared to listen. Zimbabweans have never enjoyed freedom of expression. We went straight from the oppressive Ian Smith regime into the arms of our even more oppressive brother - Mugabe.

Donors who gave Zimbabweans the opportunity to address the rest of the world through radio stations like ours had the right idea. But now, when the "shit has hit the fan" and they are needed most, they are turning their backs due to "fatigue". Imagine how tired Zimbabweans are, who are not eating, who are sleeping outside and spending days on end in queues for just about anything – from food to fuel.

The country is burning and this is its deepest hour of need. Where is the rest of the world now? A station that gives a voice to the voiceless is the ideal project for those organisations that promote global democracy. We challenge them to put their money where their mouths are. Mugabe is certainly investing in what he believes in. And the voices of reason can defeat him with very little effort.

A woman committed suicide in Gweru this week after two shops she had slaved to open were razed to the ground. If her story stays does not reach the rest of the world then Mugabe has won. This cannot be allowed to happen. The time for dictators is over. We appeal to pro-democracy groups to SAVE SW Radio Africa on behalf of the suffering people Zimbabwe.

*Gonda and Karimakwenda are reporters with SWRadio. www.swradioafrica.com

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