Solar-powered SW Radios Illegal in Zimbabwe

[Andrew Yoder]

http://www.radiodialogue.com/when-radios-become-weapons-of-mass-destruction/

While radios play a very important role in many societies especially the third world , Zimbabwean police have declared war on solar powered radios . In many African countries Zimbabwe included radio is the most important medium of communication and communities rely on it to keep themselves informed on news, local and international events. Low literacy levels and poor newspaper circulation makes dependence on newspapers negligible.The cost of a television set is beyond the reach of the majority, as many people live on less than a US$1 a day. Poor infrastructure is also another reason why people depend on solar powered radios as most rural areas have not been electrified.

On the 19th of February  2013 ,police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba told a news conference in Harare that possession and distribution of solar powered Short wave radios was illegal. She accused some opposition parties of distributing the ‘illegal devices’ to unsuspecting members of the public with the intention “to sow seeds of disharmony within the country especially now that the country is about to embark on the referendum and harmonised elections.” What followed was a series of raids on civic society organisations.

[BoomboxDX]

It's very sad to see the mess that Zimbabwe has become.