Giving a voice to the voiceless
Otjiwarongo-based radio station OtjiFM was officially launched on Saturday.
Ester Kamati
The OtjiFM radio station has become a trusted station for residents of Otjiwarongo in the first year of its operation and marked the issuing of its broadcasting licence with an official launch last Saturday.
Speaking at the ceremony, mayor Gotlieb Shivute said radio plays a significant role in shaping opinions and listed it as one of the most popular information dissemination media.
The event was sponsored by local companies including Town Square, Woermann Brock, Cenored and Town Square. Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Ekonia Mundjanima from Cenored stated that “us (sponsors) coming together is because we have a common belief in what the young people of our country are trying to do”.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) was represented at the event by the CEO Emilia Nghikembua, who shared that so far the institution has issued 15 community broadcasting service licences, one signal distributor license and one public broadcasting license, adding that promoting the broadcasting industry countrywide tops the CRAN agenda.
Nghikembua further encouraged the broadcast of local content, which people can relate to as Namibians or people from Otjiwarongo and beyond.
“We hope sincerely that the station will be successful in achieving its mandate and delivering on its editorial content and programme policies and thus contributing positively to the communities of the Otjozondjupa Region through the robust dissemination of information, news and entertainment,” she said.
OtjiFM deejay ‘Eddy the Guru’ said that radio presenters have to come up with their own scripts and paint a picture for somebody using the spoken word. “As a radio presenter, you always want to be informative,” he added.
OtjiFM board chairperson Terry Ujamba said the station is a commercial radio station and not a community radio station.
The station has up to 24 young and vibrant team members working in various capacities, including interns, and last year won in the category best radio station at the Standard Bank Waka Kids Choice Awards. Listeners can tune in on the FM frequency 107.6 or on an app called Radio Garden for anyone outside Otjiwarongo.
The official opening was officiated by Taljaard Uaputauka, standing in for OtjiFM’s patron, parliamentarian Juliet Kavetuna.
The OtjiFM radio station has become a trusted station for residents of Otjiwarongo in the first year of its operation and marked the issuing of its broadcasting licence with an official launch last Saturday.
Speaking at the ceremony, mayor Gotlieb Shivute said radio plays a significant role in shaping opinions and listed it as one of the most popular information dissemination media.
The event was sponsored by local companies including Town Square, Woermann Brock, Cenored and Town Square. Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Ekonia Mundjanima from Cenored stated that “us (sponsors) coming together is because we have a common belief in what the young people of our country are trying to do”.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) was represented at the event by the CEO Emilia Nghikembua, who shared that so far the institution has issued 15 community broadcasting service licences, one signal distributor license and one public broadcasting license, adding that promoting the broadcasting industry countrywide tops the CRAN agenda.
Nghikembua further encouraged the broadcast of local content, which people can relate to as Namibians or people from Otjiwarongo and beyond.
“We hope sincerely that the station will be successful in achieving its mandate and delivering on its editorial content and programme policies and thus contributing positively to the communities of the Otjozondjupa Region through the robust dissemination of information, news and entertainment,” she said.
OtjiFM deejay ‘Eddy the Guru’ said that radio presenters have to come up with their own scripts and paint a picture for somebody using the spoken word. “As a radio presenter, you always want to be informative,” he added.
OtjiFM board chairperson Terry Ujamba said the station is a commercial radio station and not a community radio station.
The station has up to 24 young and vibrant team members working in various capacities, including interns, and last year won in the category best radio station at the Standard Bank Waka Kids Choice Awards. Listeners can tune in on the FM frequency 107.6 or on an app called Radio Garden for anyone outside Otjiwarongo.
The official opening was officiated by Taljaard Uaputauka, standing in for OtjiFM’s patron, parliamentarian Juliet Kavetuna.
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