Keetmanshoop — The Karas Community Radio that has been on air for one year now is facing challenges to provide community radio services and at the same time position itself in an increasingly commercialised radio sector in Namibia.

In the face of these challenges the radio is planning to engage partners in its strategy to re-brand the station.

"The fact that we are a community radio does not negate the fact that we have to operate on sound business principles, we have to pay licence fees, electricity and other overheads like any business entity," said Anwar Thomas the station's manager.

Thomas bemoaned the fact that even non-governmental organisations that received media budgets for specific programmes from donor agencies want freebies in terms of airtime and flinched when requested to at least sponsor programmes or buy airtime slots.

He further questioned the practice by State-owned enterprises (SOEs), which spend huge amounts on media campaigns in mainstream media, but when they engage community radios want free airtime for their campaigns.

He specifically mentioned the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in which the Electoral Commission Namibia (ECN) spent huge amounts of money on double spread advertisements in mainstream newspapers and commercial radio stations, but expect community radios in the regions to carry these messages for free.

Another example he mentioned is the national road safety campaign of the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA).

"These SOEs were constituted by Act of Parliament and are funded with tax payers' money so I, on behalf of the community radio sector or on Karas FM's behalf, demand that the spoils in terms of media campaigns be shared," Thomas fumed.

There is nothing in terms of broadcasting quality or programme presentation and content that makes community radios less professional than commercial radio stations except the fact that the latter are more expensive.

In fact, community radio stations cover demographic area specifics in more detail than commercial stations, which have national and international outlook on news, events and issues.

"Community radio does operate on the principle of 'news is newsier when it's closer'," Thomas philosophises.

He said other challenges are to keep its volunteer presenters on the edge of broadcasting excellence through continuous training and mentoring, revenue generation and financial sustainability through participatory broadcasting.

Thomas said when community radio stations determined tariffs for adverts and other services it tries to maintain a balance between its mandate that of a community broadcaster and financial sustainability, hence it always offers cheaper rates.

He said that these are issues that MISA's broadcasting portfolio has to look into and advocate together with the community radio sector.

"My understanding or impression of this portfolio was that it will coordinate and serve as a collective voice for the community radios," he added.

On the contrary, he noted this portfolio for the past year only sends questionnaires to community radios and said, "Its time for action."

A massive media campaign to advocate the role of community radios in Namibia is long over due and he called on the MISA-Namibia Broadcasting and Research Officer to convene a national conference for community radios to map the road forward.

"We, as community radios, never had such an exercise to share experiences and to jointly map a strategic plan for community radio sector," he concluded.