Amakhosi applies for radio licence
"This is a notice to all of you that Amakhosi is leading a partnership of like-minded partners and have set up a company and partnership that will apply for the Bulawayo commercial metro radio station."
Mhlanga addressed the issue to an array of people that have worked with or for Amakhosi.
"(This notice goes to) all members of Amakhosi Cultural Centre, students, Amakhosi graduates since its first intake in 1982, Bulawayo artists, producers, directors, our valued Amakhosi fans who have supported us over the years, our business partners, the Bulawayo City Council and management who provided us a place to grow our vision and nurture the nation's underprivileged talent when everyone at that time doubted us and the value of our African arts and culture.
"Government departments and agencies that work with us, educational institutions from Grade Zero to universities that work with Amakhosi, our valued media houses, journalists and editors who have continuously written about our successes and failures, our valued civil society, community stakeholders and citizens of Bulawayo, The application follows the open call for submission by those interested in running metro radio stations across the country by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe."
Waiting patiently since 1988
In his statement, Mhlanga says that Amakhosi nearly went on air in 1988 and since then has been waiting patiently for the opportunity.
Although the success of the venture depends on BAZ issuing the licence, Amakhosi has already covered a lot of ground with the top hierarchy already in place and a physical site identified.
Amakhosi product and politician-turned-corporate player Qubani Moyo has been appointed the chief executive officer. Englam Nyathi, who used to be with ZBC, is set to become the station manager.
Mhlanga says they are ready to build a high-tech state-of-the-art digital radio broadcasting centre at the North End Shopping Centre in North End suburb north of the city centre.
He says that other details concerning the set-up and programming structures will only be released into the public arena after the application has been submitted to BAZ in time for the 7 January 2014 deadline.
Introducing new voices on the airwaves
Known for its identification and grooming of talent, Amakhosi is set to continue down the same road as they are looking at introducing new voices on the airwaves, rather than head-hunting from the existing pool as the other new players seem to have done:
"As soon as we get that licence, should the Broadcasting Authority decide so, we will start recruiting fresh young talented radio announcers and put them under an intensive training programme at our broadcasting centre under the guidance of veteran broadcasting teachers, Edward Moyo and Amon 'Umaqhula Ayibambe' Nyamambi. Theirs is to train talent and hand it over to the station manager and CEO," Mhlanga's statement reads.
Mhlanga says that in addition to Bulawayo itself, Esabantu will reach areas such as Inyathi, Shangani, Esigodini Mbalabala, Maphisa, Figtree, Solusi, Nyamandlovu, Gwayi, Insiza and Mbembesi.
