For years, the notion of community radio in Botswana was met with resistance, even suspicion. A popular cautionary tale often cited was that of Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) in Rwanda, whose hateful broadcasts infamously fuelled the 1994 genocide.
That tragic misuse of radio became a convenient deterrent for policymakers wary of allowing citizens to take to the airwaves. Yet this narrative was always one-sided. Just across the border, South Africa’s vibrant community radio sector, with over 200 licensed stations, has been instrumental in preserving indigenous languages, nurturing local talent and addressing community-specific issues ranging from health awareness to youth unemployment. In Zimbabwe, community stations are gradually becoming key players in education, cultural revival and democratic participation.
These countries have shown that when managed responsibly, community radio is not a threat but a national asset. Consequently, when UB Radio recently received a licence to broadcast on FM, it was not just a win for the University of Botswana. It was a breakthrough for the country’s media development. As the first campus radio station in Botswana to be licensed under the community radio category, such a milestone represents more than the expansion of airwaves. It signals a long-overdue shift towards inclusive, grassroots-driven communication that bridges the gap between academia and society. Housed within the University of Botswana, the station is uniquely placed to merge theory with practice. It allows communication students to experiment, learn and grow in a real-world broadcasting environment while contributing to public knowledge. But more importantly, it offers a model of how radio can be used to inform, educate and empower, not incite. As you tune in, it’s hard to miss the buzz of students eagerly preparing their next segment—on climate change, student mental health, or the beauty of Setswana poetry. These are the voices and stories that rarely find space on commercial airwaves, yet they are deeply relevant to Botswana’s social fabric. This is what community radio nurtures - authenticity, diversity and local resonance. Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority’s (BOCRA) recent call for more community radio station applications is a bold and welcome step in the right direction. It is an acknowledgement, albeit delayed, that Botswana’s democracy can be strengthened - not weakened - by opening up communication platforms to the people. After all, who can better speak about village roads, local water issues or tribal heritage than the people directly affected? Thus, community radio plays a crucial role in combating misinformation and disinformation by providing accurate, verified information tailored to local contexts. Unlike mass media driven by commercial interests, community radio is rooted in trust, often drawing on voices familiar to the community.
This grassroots credibility helps listeners make informed decisions and resist the spread of harmful falsehoods. Furthermore, community radio is key in preserving cultural identity. With the gradual erosion of indigenous languages and oral traditions, radio becomes a tool for cultural revival. Imagine a community station in Gantsi or Kasane airing daily segments in SheKgalagari or Subiya, with elders sharing folktales and proverbs with the youth. These are not just broadcasts, they are acts of cultural preservation. It is often said that development must be people-centred. If that is true, then media must also be people-driven. UB Radio’s transition into a licensed community station has opened the door for more such platforms across Botswana. But this is only the beginning. We must now create space for more communities - from Tsabong to Shakawe - to tell their own stories in their own voices. As UB Radio charts this new path, it reminds us of a simple truth - that the power of media lies not just in who controls the microphone but in who gets to speak into it. *Thomas T. Nkhoma is MISA-Botswana national governing council chairperson
