Misa bemoans closure of SW Radio

via Misa bemoans closure of SW Radio | The Zimbabwean 7 August 2014

Misa-Zimbabwe has described as tragic this week’s closure of exiled media house SW Radio Africa.

Founder and editor, Gerry Jackson, said the UK-based station would wind up business on August 10, after beaming news and current affairs information to Zimbabwe and other parts of the world on December 19, 2001.

“It is sad that one of the daily sources of alternative information is closing down. It is even worse if one considers that radio remains the most popular news source in Zimbabwe, covering almost 80 percent of the population,” said Nhlanhla Ngwenya, director of Misa-Zimbabwe.

The radio station was established in the face of the growing onslaught by President Robert Mugabe’s government against independent journalists and media houses as it faced a fierce challenge from the MDC and increasing international isolation due to human and property rights abuses, bad governance and politically motivated violence.

SW Radio had become popular for hard-hitting news, in-depth analyses and interviews featuring political heavyweights.