Founded in 2022 after Cyclone Idai’s devastation, Chimanimani FM is a community radio station reaching over 150,000 people in eastern Zimbabwe. Supported by UNESCO, UNOPS, the World Bank and local partners, the station broadcasts 24/7 in local languages, sharing vital information on climate adaptation, early warnings, and sustainable farming.
When Cyclone Idai tore through Chimanimani and much of eastern Zimbabwe in March 2019, it left a trail of destruction that exposed the region’s deep vulnerability to climate change, killing 634 people, affecting over 270,000 individuals and damaging infrastructure worth millions.
In the wake of this catastrophe, Chimanimani FM, a community radio, was established on 2022, under the World Bank-funded Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project, with support from community members, civil society, and international partners, including UNESCO and UNOPS.
Led by station manager Themba Gata, Chimanimani FM operates 24 hours a day with the support of 30 passionate volunteers, many of whom are survivors of Idai themselves. The station broadcasts in local languages, making complex issues like climate adaptation, early warning systems, and sustainable agriculture accessible and relevant to everyone, from schoolchildren to elderly farmers. Across the district, families huddle around radios that carry them comfort, solidarity, and life-saving guidance.
We no longer wait for someone to come and tell us what’s happening with the weather. Through Chimanimani FM, we understand weather forecasts, we plan ahead, and we help each other stay safe. It feels like our own people are speaking to us—not outsiders.
What began as a disaster response initiative is now a permanent fixture in the landscape—a lifeline broadcasting hope, preparedness, and empowerment to over 150,000 listeners across Manicaland and parts of Masvingo.
Zimbabwe's Chimanimani FM is broadcasting hope to predominantly farmers who continually face disasters
The station’s signature programme, Zvokwadi Zvedu (Our Truths), empowers locals to share firsthand stories of climate change and community solutions, building unity and resilience. Youth program Nhasi neMangwana (Today and Tomorrow) has inspired campaigns on tree planting, climate clubs, and disaster drills leading volunteers to work closely with the Meteorological Services Department and NGOs to relay accurate weather updates, early warnings, and farming tips based on seasonal forecasts.
At first, I just wanted to help. Then I realized radio was our loudest tool—we could reach everyone. We could save lives.
With the help of UNESCO, Chimanimani FM has become a trusted bridge between the community and institutions. Government officials, humanitarian agencies, and climate scientists join regular broadcasts to share policy updates and response strategies. With the airwaves open to all, the station has become a democratic space where people can ask hard questions and demand accountability.
UNESCO played a critical role in facilitating the licensing of community radio stations in Zimbabwe, including Chimanimani FM. We collaborated with the Government of Zimbabwe and supported the provision of equipment, solar installations, and studio soundproofing. These stations are not just about broadcasting—they are about amplifying community voices, especially in the face of climate and disaster risks.
Following the community's participation, results can already be seen. In dry parts of Chimanimani, farmers are now planting drought-resistant crops. Women’s cooperatives are leading rainwater harvesting projects. Youth climate monitors feed real-time updates to the station. The community, once shattered by a cyclone, is slowly reshaping itself into a model of climate resilience and grassroots innovation.
From its modest studio to the remote mountain villages it reaches, Chimanimani FM is more than a broadcaster—it became a platform for healing, action, and transformation.
