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WILL PUBLIC USE UNESWA’S RADIO STATION?

22/09/2019 11:05:00 Mfanukhona Nkambule

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KWALUSENI – Senator Leckina Magagula wants to know a little bit about the UNESWA online radio station.

Magagula is interested in knowing how the broadcasting station for the students of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) will function. The former public relations officer of the Royal Eswatini Police Service wants to know if the radio station will be open to the public to submit announcements just like at Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS).
This is contained in a report on questions posed by senators to the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology two weeks ago. Magagula referred the Princess Sikhanyiso, the Minister of Information, Communications and Technology, to page 12 of her ministry’s first quarter report for the year 2019/2020, which stated that UNESWA has been granted a licence to run an online radio station. Therefore, she asked the princess to give clarity on the matter. In her response, the minister conceded the granting of the licence to the institution.

It’s for students – minister

Princess Sikhanyiso said the licence was granted to the university specificly for practical learning. She explained that the public would not be allowed to utilise the station. However, she mentioned that communities in the neighbourhood might receive the signals, but would not be allowed to use the radio station for announcements. “The institution (UNESWA) has been granted a community radio licence to specifically serve UNESWA students in giving them practical training as they undergo their studies, hence the public will not be allowed to utilise the station despite that some areas near the campuses will receive its signals,” the minister said. Sakhile Ndzimandze, the former President of the Student’s Representative Council (SRC) said they were aware that the radio station was established for students doing journalism and mass communications.

Ndzimandze said there was no memo issued by the university to explain if they were also free as SRC to use the station to make announcements. He hoped the new SRC to be appointed soon would have an opportunity to discuss the issue. Siphiwe Mohammed, the Head of the Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC) could not be reached for comment through her mobile phone. Messages were texted to her. She had not responded to them at the time this report was compiled yesterday at 11:06 am.