Established in 2000, VOP was registered in Zimbabwe in May 2002 as Radio Voice of the People Communications Trust. Our vision is that of a Zimbabwe that respects the right to information and enables citizens to freely exchange knowledge and ideas so as to make informed choices. Our mission is to promote political, economic, social and cultural development in Zimbabwe through broadcasting, online and other multi-media platforms. All board members are Zimbabweans with vast experience in broadcasting, newspaper journalism, publishing, legal and business backgrounds, committed to plurality and development in the electronic and print media.
The goal of VOP Zimbabwe is to be the first choice radio station for informed opinion in Zimbabwe.
Management and staff also comprise highly experienced and professional broadcasters and journalists who value and respect journalism ethics in their programming and writing. Radio VOP programmes are currently broadcast on Short Wave via Radio Netherlands Worldwide since airwaves in Zimbabwe are not fully opened up to private players. News is also available on the 24 hour website.
Radio VOP is supported by various donors in and outside Zimbabwe who however do not interfere in editorial policy matters. Having survived severe bombing of offices, arrests of trustees and staff members, followed by an extended court case, Radio VOP has shown its total commitment towards supporting the opening up of the airwaves in Zimbabwe by applying for an FM radio licence in 2005, 2011 and 2012 as VoxMedia Productions Private Limited. The 2005 and 2011 applications were not successful. Radio VOP has since filed a court application to contest the denial of a national commercial radio licence by the issuing authority, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). Radio VOP is also awaiting the outcome of its 2012 application for a commercial radio licence for Harare.
The values of the Station include: People-centeredness, Editorial independence, Ethical and Professional standards, Good Governance within the organization, Gender Sensitivity, Accountability, Commitment and Patriotism. They broadcast a one–hour long radio programmes everyday on Short Wave in Shona, Ndebele and English. They also run a popular 24 hour news website www.radiovop.com.
One of their most popular programmes is run daily on Short Wave titled Vanhu vari kutaura/ Abantu bayakhuluma / The People are talking. (Morning Edition)- a news and current affairs magazine programme in Shona, Ndebele and English covering politics, the economy and social life in Zimbabwe. RadioVOP subscribes to a Code of Conduct that promotes truthful, accurate, fair and balanced news reporting.
In June 2006, RadioVOP Zimbabwe was the recipient of the prestigious One World Media International Award in London, United Kingdom for excellence in promoting human rights and freedom of expression in a repressive media environment.
