Duma FM, one of the three radio
stations licensed by the National Broadcasting Board (NBB) early this
year will go on air in November, writes Tumelo Setshogo in Mmegi.
"Hopefully
without fail we will start broadcasting by the first week of November.
We are certain that we will be available on air," said the chief
executive officer of the Duma FM, Moreri Gabakgore. He said that their
license required them to be operational within 12 months after they
have been awarded the license, "and we still have up to at least April
2008 to be on air." The station has been awarded a 15-year license.
Other radio stations that were awarded broadcasting licenses are
Gabz FM and Yarona FM. The new radio station (Duma FM) was supposed to
have gone on air at the end of September but it failed to meet the
deadline due to unavailability of equipment.ÂÂÂ
Gabakgore said they were not able to start broadcasting by September
as they wished because their suppliers delayed in delivering the
equipment. He told Monitor that, "it took long for the suppliers to
have delivered the equipment on time hence the delay to start operating
as we had planned. But they (equipment) have now arrived and are in
South Africa for assessment." The equipment was ordered from Europe.
The radio station, which is located in Gaborone North opposite
Phakalane, comprises of three support studios, which are the newsroom,
program and production. "This is where our equipment will be located.
As you can see they are convenient and compatible studios," said
Gabakgore. One of the shareholders, Patrick Masimole said, "they are
beautiful studios though empty. It's a pity because there is no
equipment and I can assure you that by mid October there is going to be
some development going on here."
Click here to read the full report, posted on Mmegi's website.ÂÂÂ
