The Case for Community Radio Broadcasting in Zambia
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Unisa Institutional Repository COMMUNITY RADIO BROADCASTING IN ZAMBIA: A POLICY PERSPECTIVE by FACKSON BANDA Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY In the subject COMMUNICATION At the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF PJ FOURIE CO-PROMOTER: DR M LEMBA 2003 ******************* 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is difficult to fully acknowledge the assistance that I received from many a person in order for me to complete this thesis. For some, it was a word of encouragement; for others, it was the supply of the much- needed research materials; for some others, it was availability for personal interviews. As for Musale, my dear wife, she occupied a unique place in the entire research process. She was not only a source of emotional strength, she was also a source of intellectual balance as it was she who acted as my research assistant, always there to ensure that the books, newspaper cuttings, articles, interview notes and other research materials I needed were not misplaced. First and foremost, therefore, this work is dedicated to my loving wife. Second, I dedicate it to my mother who ensured, within the family’s meagre resources, that I would have a sound primary school education which has stood me in good stead up to the level of my secondary, my undergraduate and now my postgraduate studies. On a more academic level, my promoter, Prof. P J Fourie, deserves a special mention. His incisive and constructive comments made me go an extra mile in my quest for knowledge. He was my tower of academic excellence during my research. In the same breath, I wish to thank Dr. Musonda Lemba for his time to pore over this thesis. Dr. Lemba was the first to introduce me to research methods in the social sciences during my undergraduate days at the University of Zambia (UNZA). Finally, my thanks go to the Executive Director of the Panos Institute London, Mr. James Deane, who was happy to let me continue my doctoral studies upon joining the Panos Institute Southern Africa as Regional Director in 1999, in spite of the numerous demands of the organisation. 2 SUMMARY This study is a policy investigation of community radio broadcasting in Zambia. The emergence of this tier of broadcasting can be traced to the 1990s, following the country’s policy of politico-economic liberalisation. The state broadcasting system had hitherto reigned supreme. Based upon a focused synthesis of a range of historical, political, policy, regulatory and other factors, within the context of participatory development communication, this study proposes a normative policy model for community radio broadcasting in Zambia. To begin with, the study focuses on the historical factors that have influenced the development of community radio broadcasting in the country, particularly in the period before and after 1991. This historical analysis establishes the fact that the shape that community radio broadcasting has assumed in Zambia is largely reflective of the state-centric policy-making regime. This policy-making regime is itself a legacy of British colonialism. Next, the study offers a conceptual framework of community radio broadcasting. It analyses several theoretical antecedents upon which the conceptual edifice of community radio broadcasting would seem to be built. In particular, the study explores the contributions of media effects and normative media theories towards the conceptual underpinnings of community radio broadcasting. Furthermore, as an attempt at establishing some empirical referents for developing a community radio broadcasting policy for Zambia, the study delves into a comparative analysis of trends in broadcast policy and regulatory practices throughout the world, with a special focus on Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Australia. This comparative policy analysis reveals differentiated levels of sophistication of policy-cum-regulatory models relating to community radio broadcasting. This provides a wealth of chequered experiences for Zambia to learn from. To further substantiate the case for a policy model, the study examines selected community radio initiatives in Zambia. Finally, based upon this focused synthesis, the study proposes a normative policy model for community radio broadcasting in Zambia. The policy proposal, informed by the assumptions of the group and organised anarchy models of policy-making, seeks to promote community radio broadcasting in terms of its vision, regulatory structures, funding, training, facilities, technology, production of local content and research. 3 Key terms: Community; Community radio broadcasting; Community development; Policy formulation; Development communication; Focused synthesis; Participatory communication; Broadcast policy; Policy models; Policy analysis 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 A geopolitical background to Zambia 11 1.2 Setting out the background to the study 13 1.3 Statement of the problem 16 1.4 Objectives of the study 18 1.5 Statement of research questions 18 1.6 Methodology 18 1.6.1 Problems in data generation 22 1.7 Structure of the study 23 CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL CONTEXTUALISATION 2.1 An overview of the media landscape before 1991 29 2.2 An overview of the media landscape after 1991 39 2.2.1 Six distinguishable processes in the media landscape 47 Cautious deregulation 47 Christian determinism 49 Globalisation and its impact on Zambian broadcasting 49 De-localised content 59 Awareness of community radio 63 Lack of policy coherence 63 2.3 Existing media policy mechanisms in Zambia 65 5 CHAPTER THREE: THE CASE FOR COMMUNITY RADIO BROADCASTING IN ZAMBIA 3.1 Towards a global contextualisation of community radio broadcasting 81 3.1.1 Trends in community broadcasting in Southern Africa 85 3.1.2 Trends in community broadcasting in other parts of Africa 88 3.1.3 Trends in community broadcasting in the North 91 3.2 Tendencies in community radio broadcasting research 98 3.3 Towards a development communication theoretical framework for community radio broadcasting ---------------------------------------------------------------------104 3.3.1 Media effects theories 105 3.3.2 Normative media theories 107 3.3.3 The diffusion/modernisation model 109 Criticisms against the modernisation model 115 3.3.4 The participatory communication model 119 3.4 A rationale for community radio broadcasting in Zambia 126 3.4.1 The political imperative 127 3.4.2 The pragmatic imperative 127 3.4.3 The policy imperative 129 CHAPTER FOUR: THE STATE OF THE ART OF COMMUNITY MEDIA IN ZAMBIA 4.1 Towards a methodological justification 134 6 4.2 An integrated analysis of the key findings 137 4.2.1 Defining community radio 138 4.2.2 Community radio as a geographic necessity 139 4.2.3 Community radio as a socio-cultural phenomenon 140 4.2.4 Community radio as a promoter of development 141 4.3 Conclusion of the findings 143 4.4 Analysis of selected community radio initiatives in Zambia 143 4.4.1 Mazabuka Community Radio Station 144 4.4.2 Radio Lyambai 146 4.4.3 Yatsani Radio 149 4.4.4 Chikuni Community Radio Station 152 CHAPTER FIVE: POLICY FORMULATION AND BROADCAST REGULATION 5.1 Theoretical approaches to policy-making 157 5.1.1 Public policy-making and implementation as a process 159 5.1.1.1 The elite/mass model 159 5.1.1.2 The group model 160 5.1.1.3 The systems model 161 5.1.1.4 The institutionalist model 161 5.1.1.5 The neo-institutionalist model 162 7 5.1.1.6 The organised anarchy model 163 5.1.2 Public policy-making and implementation as an output 164 5.1.2.1 The incrementalist model 165 5.1.2.2 The rationalist model 166 5.1.2.3 The “third approach” 167 5.2 The relevance of the policy approaches for the thesis 168 5.3 The Zambian context for policy-making 169 5.3.1 State agency in policy formulation 170 5.3.1.1 The policy-making and implementation process in Zambia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------171 5.3.2 Parliamentary influence on policy formulation 175 5.3.3 Societal interest groups as a factor in policy formulation 177 5.4 A comparative analysis of trends in community broadcasting policy and regulation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------182 5.4.1 Malawi 182 5.4.2 Mozambique 187 5.4.3 South Africa 190 5.4.4 Australia 199 CHAPTER SIX: A POLICY MODEL FOR COMMUNITY RADIO BROADCASTING IN ZAMBIA 6.1 Introduction: restating the policy problem 209 8 6.2 Policy problem analysis: operationalising the policy problem 211 6.2.1 Policy objectives 212 6.3 Proposed policy solutions: crafting policy strategies 213 6.3.1 Vision of community radio broadcasting 213 6.3.2 The regulatory structure for community radio broadcasting 214 6.3.3 The funding of community radio broadcasters 216 6.3.4 The application of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) and overall infrastructure development ------------------------------------218 6.3.5 The provision of training and education to community radio practitioners ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------220 6.3.6 The production of local content 221 6.3.7 Research 224 6.4 Policy implementation mechanism 225 6.5 Conclusion: restating the policy process 227 CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSION 229 LIST OF SOURCES CONSULTED 236 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of Zambia 11 Figure 2. Television audience share 60 Figure 3. MIBS policy consultative mechanism 73 Figure 4. Zambia’s new policy process 172 Figure 5. Proposed policy implementation mechanism 226 9 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Comparative media data and functional literacy 27 Table 2. South African media statistics - 1997 27 Table 3. Estimated circulation figures of key newspapers in Zambia 2002 32 Table 4. Key national newspapers in Zambia 40 Table 5. ZNBC radio and TV audience share 41 Table 6.