“Voices of the Community” radio programs address citizen concerns about land rights in Cabo Delgado

Working with community radios in Cabo Delgado, h2n has helped stations develop the “Vozes da Comunidade” (Voices of the Community) radio program to encourage civic participation, accountability and transparency in local governance. In a recent program, h2n radio coordinator Joao Bosse and other h2n team members from Cabo Delgado and Nampula joined reporter Machaca Assumo at the RC Pharama radio station in Balama to support the reporting on land rights at the Chimphebe administrative post. “People here are in a dispute with a company called DD Investments, which is believed by local residents to have expropriated land illegally,” says Assumo. “Such conflicts are common and arise because people do not have knowledge of the law,” explains Assumo. The “Vozes” program gives people an outlet to raise their concerns and complaints with local authorities. “This is one of several concurrent activities at RC Pharama,” says Joao Bosse. “The station also hosts a Youth Hub for young reporters and is a member of the gender reporting network.” Recently, the station concluded a training on storytelling and radio narratives. “Stories about people who are doing something right in the community help change behaviors,” says Ramija Andila, one of the reporters at the station. The “Vozes” program is being implemented through an OSISA-funded project. h2n, which is primarily supported by Norway, works extensively with community radios, produces community videos, broadcasts the “Saude e Vida” television program on health and wellness, facilitates youth engagement hubs and pursues a rapidly expanding gender equality agenda.