Radio Mthwakazi FM is a non profit making Zimbabwean community radio station operating from Johannesburg, South Africa, which was established in the beginning of 2010. It was founded by a group of South African based Zimbabwean community leaders, cultural activists and artists led by Gerald Ngulube kaNcube and Muthusi Ndlovu in a quest to create community cohesion and arrest the negative impact of the cultural decay that is affecting the Mthwakazi nation in Zimbabwe and diaspora.We are currently broadcasting pre-recorded shows on internet at www.radiomthwakazifm.com.
Why “Mthwakazi”?
This community project earned it’s name from the historical kingdom of uMthwakazi that was founded by Inkosi Mzilikazi kaMatshobana in South Western Zimbabwe in the 19th century. The word “Mthwakazi” comes from the name “Thwa” , the Ndebele derivative of “Tya” which is the name of the San speaking original inhabitants of the modern day Matabelelend region of Zimbabwe. Mthwakazi is the name that the AmaNdebele, BaKalanga, BaTonga, Nambya, Sotho, BaSankwe, BaLemba, BaDhombe, BaVenda, AmaXhosa, BaHlengwe, Shangani and the San (Tya) peoples of South Western Zimbabwe identify themselves. It is an ethnically neutral name that creates a sense of common identity and has kept the diverse peoples of this region glued together for the past two centuries.
Mission
There is no doubt that the modern day Mthwakazi nation only exist under a dark cloud of past and continuing general socio-economic, political and cultural marginalization. In the light of the above, various peoples of the Mthwakazi community found it prudent to establish Radio Mthwakazi FM as an engine to drive the renaissance of the Mthwakazi nation in the context of modern day Zimbabwe. We believe that revival of a socio-economically, politically and culturally conscious Mthwakazi nation would be a giant step towards creating a truly cultural diverse but united state of Zimbabwe.
Radio Mthwakazi FM is therefore a communication platform that gives all those who desire to revive and promote any socio-economic, political and cultural revivalist agenda of the Mthwakazi nation for the benefit of our posterity. One unique feature of Radio Mthwakazi FM project is to equally promote all languages that are spoken in the Mthwakazi nation.
Conclusion
Having highlighted the gaps that have to be bridged as a precondition for the realization of our humble quest to rejuvenate the marginalized and fast decaying Mthwakazi nation in Zimbabwe and diaspora we hereby call upon all her proud sons and daughters to play a part in this noble project.
VUKA MTHWAKAZI VUKA! NGOKWAKITHI LOKHU!
