Martin Sithole
Harare—As the world commemorates World Radio Day under the theme “Radio and Climate Change: A Powerful Tool for Climate Action”, Zimbabweans who rely on Voice of America’s (VOA’s) Studio 7 are bracing for a potential shutdown.
This comes amid reports that the US administration intends to defund all government-owned media outlets including VOA, which it feels represent an outdated and ideologically biased use of taxpayer money.
The debate gained momentum after US special envoy Richard Grenell took to X and described VOA and Radio Free Europe as redundant.
“Radio Free Europe and Voice of America are media outlets paid for by the American taxpayers.
“It is state-owned media. These outlets are filled with far-left activists. I’ve worked with these reporters for decades. It’s a relic of the past. We don’t need government-paid media outlets,” observed Grenell.
Tech mogul Elon Musk concurred Grenell.
He is now advisor to President Donald Trump who won last year’s election and was inaugurated in January.
Musk is in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that has recommended massive cuts or suspensions of foreign aid.
“Yes, shut them down. Europe is free now (not counting stifling bureaucracy). Nobody listens to them anymore. It’s just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money,” wrote Musk.
Together with Trump, Musk has been critical of the previous US government’s expenditure under its 46th president, Joe Biden.
Musk has already championed the suspension of USAID programmes globally, resulting in widespread staff and project layoffs.
Studio 7, which operates as a VOA unit focusing on Zimbabwe, has for decades provided accessible coverage of Zimbabwean political, economic and social developments, particularly to rural and under-served communities.
Since its inception in 2003, Studio 7 has provided independent news in English, Shona, and Ndebele, countering state-controlled narratives and offering a platform for diverse voices.
Garikai Chaunza a former Zimbabwean broadcast journalist and post-doctoral fellow in the Journalism and Media Studies department at Rhodes University specialising in radio and audio storytelling, emphasised Studio 7’s importance as an alternative medium for marginalised communities to bridge the information gap.
“Studio 7 has been a critical alternative voice for Zimbabwe’s marginalised communities, particularly in rural areas where state-controlled media dominates the airwaves.
“Since its inception in 2003, Studio 7 has provided Zimbabweans with independent news, countering state propaganda and exposing corruption, human rights abuses, and electoral fraud.
“Its broadcasts in English, Shona, and Ndebele have been instrumental in bridging the information gap, offering a rare platform for diverse perspectives in a country where press freedom remains severely restricted,” said Chuanza.
Zimbabwe’s media landscape, despite superficial reforms, has remained heavily politicised over and titled in favour of the ruling elite.
“Zimbabwe exemplifies the extreme case of a hybrid regime masquerading as a democracy while stifling independent journalism.
“Successive governments have used rhetoric about media reforms while maintaining repressive control over broadcasting,” added Chaunza.
Media development activist, Rashweat Mukundu, said the closure of Studio 7 would result in the loss of an inclusive medium that was accessible to marganilised communities, adding that the broadcasting sector was dominated by Zanu PF and its appendages.
“State-owned media, private television, and radio stations are either controlled by the ruling party, Zanu PF, or have affiliations with it.
“Studio 7’s departure would be a significant loss, as it has been one of the most professional and inclusive platforms, sharing Zimbabwean stories by Zimbabwean people.
“It will be very sad if the American government goes ahead to shut down alternative media platforms regardless of the opening up of the media space in Zimbabwe and community radio stations, some of which are now operational,” said Mukundu.
For listeners like Itai Mandaza, Studio 7’s potential closure would be deeply felt.
“If Studio 7 closes, I will be among the many inconvenienced. It seems the focus has been on the journalists affected, but what about us, the listeners, who relied on it as a reliable source of news on issues that affect our communities,” he lamented.
Critics argue that shutting down VOA would undermine America’s longstanding commitment to supporting democracy and human rights worldwide.
Radio remains the most accessible medium in Zimbabwe, especially in remote areas where Studio 7 has a significant reach.
Media analysts argue that VOA’s departure would create a void no independent local outlet can currently fill, given the prevailing lack of resources and the restrictive media environment.
While the future of Studio 7 remains uncertain, its potential shutdown underscores a broader debate about the role of international media in supporting press freedom and information access in repressive regimes.