Community Radio in Breaking the Silence of Gender-Based Violence in Tanzania: An analysis of Sengerema Community Radio

Dianus Josephat Ishengoma

Community Radio in Breaking the Silence of Gender-Based Violence in Tanzania: An analysis of Sengerema Community Radio

Dianus Josephat Ishengoma^{^*}

School of Journalism and Mass Communication University of Dar es Salaam

*Corresponding Author:

Dianus Josephat Ishengoma
School of Journalism and Mass Communication University of Dar es Salaam
E-mail: diajose64@gmail.com

Received: 05-Jul-2023, Manuscript No. gmj-23-111001; Editor assigned: 07-Jul- 2023, PreQc No. 111001; Reviewed: 11-Aug-2023, QC No. gmj-23-111001; Revised: 16-Aug-2023, Manuscript No. gmj-23-111001(R); Published: 23-Aug-2023, DOI: 10.36648/1550-7521.21.64.386

Citation: Ishengoma DJ (2023) Community Radio in Breaking the Silence of Gender- Based Violence in Tanzania: An analysis of Sengerema Community Radio. Global Media Journal, 21:64.

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Abstract

Gender-based violence is a grave violation of human dignity that significantly impacts millions of individuals worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa facing severe challenges. This paper examined the effectiveness of Sengerema community radio in addressing gender-based violence within Tanzania. The research specifically investigates the level of community engagement in radio-based dialogues regarding gender-based violence. Employing a mixed-methods approach and descriptive research design, data was gathered from a sample of 204 community members surveyed across five wards of the Sengerema district. Additionally, interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with radio program producers and editors. The findings reveal that only 40% of community members actively participate in radio programs focused on gender-based violence, with men displaying higher levels of engagement compared to women. While the radio has contributed to positive shifts in attitudes towards gender-based violence, its capacity to expose and effectively address this issue through programming remains limited. The study identifies several challenges faced by the radio station in its endeavours to tackle gender-based violence, including financial constraints, inadequate support from politicians and local government leaders, deeply entrenched cultural practices, and unfavourable program scheduling. To enhance the radio’s effectiveness in addressing gender-based violence, the study recommends increasing the number of programs dedicated to this issue, involving local government leaders in broadcasting plans, and scheduling programs at times when they are accessible to a larger portion of the community

Keywords

Community Radio; Gender-based violence (GBV); Media/ Communication

Introduction

With the crackling airwaves of empowerment, community radio is not just a broadcast but, it is a catalyst for change that echoes the voices of the marginalised and reshapes the contours of development, forging an inflexible alliance against the scourge of gender-based violence in many countries. In the 1980s, early communication models resulting from modernisation and dependency theories of development faced substantial criticism for neglecting a fundamental element of participation (Mefalopulos, 2008). As a response, a participatory communication approach emerged, acknowledging the use of community radio as a significant medium in addressing development challenges and empowering marginalized communities. Community radio has proven instrumental in addressing various societal aspects, including employment, agriculture, poverty, environment, water management, gender, health, disaster protection, and socio-economic issues at the grassroots level [1]. It facilitates communication between rural populations and their government, serving as an independent platform for dialogue, interaction, and promoting open discussions and democratic processes [2].

In Tanzania, the establishment of community radios has played a vital role in engaging ordinary and disempowered communities in media activities, addressing development issues, and driving social changes, particularly concerning gender and women’s empowerment [3]. Community radio has been recognised for its ability to address a wide range of development challenges at the grassroots level, including poverty, agriculture, election issues, women’s affairs, conflict, human rights, gender inequality, education, and repulsive traditional beliefs [4]. For instance, Orkonerei community radio Simanjoro-Tanzania has made significant contributions to transforming the lives of Maasai herdsmen, fostering permanent settlements, educating girls, and empowering women to combat gender-based violence, including the eradication of female genital mutilation [5] By amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, facilitating dialogue, and empowering individuals, community radio contributes to the creation of a society where GBV can be effectively addressed and prevented.

Evolution of Community Radio

The history of community radio can be traced to the 1940s in Latin America when the mode of communication (mainstream media) failed to address poverty and injustices in the marginalised communities [6] in 1947, Tin-miners and Sutatenza community radios were established in Bolivia and Columbia, respectively. These radios were particularly established to re-address the work conditions of the workers and other community members in surrounding areas. In Europe, community radio establishments served as an alternative outlet for public broadcasting in the 1960s [7].

In Africa, the significance of community radio increased following the rise of democratic processes, which were supported by organizations like UNESCO and the United Nations [8] These organizations recognized the potential of community radio as a tool for promoting free expression and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. Furthermore, the 1990s witnessed a proliferation of community radios in Africa. This growth was driven by the inadequacy of mainstream and commercial broadcasting in reaching specific areas and providing representation for marginalized groups [9] Community radio stations emerged as a response to the failure of existing broadcasting systems to adequately serve the diverse needs of African societies.

In Tanzania, despite the emergence of private radio stations in the 1990s, these stations failed to cater to the specific needs of marginalized societies. These commercial-oriented stations were primarily located in urban areas and owned by urban business elites, thus neglecting the marginalized communities [ 10] However, starting in 1993, community radio stations began to operate in Tanzania, focusing on community broadcasting to promote fishing, farming, animal husbandry, poverty alleviation, literacy, HIV/AIDS campaigns, and environmental sustainability in various geographical areas [11].

State of Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence is a grave violation of human rights, permeating societies worldwide, particularly prevalent in developing countries Its impact is far-reaching, as it not only compromises physical health but also drains individuals’ energy and erodes their self-esteem Global estimates indicate that approximately one in three women aged 15 years and older, who have ever been in a partnership, have experienced enduring physical and/or sexual violence throughout their lives. These rates vary from 16.3% in East Asia to a staggering 65.64% in central sub-Saharan Africa [12].

In Africa, GBV has been a pervasive problem throughout the continent (Grace, 2021). It is also a paramount factor in human rights violations and its effects have been in heightened women’s vulnerability to reproductive health problems as well as limiting their ability to participate effectively in productive roles (ibid). Apart from women, children, men, and entire families have also been victimised by such violence that has resulted in the perpetuation of the ‘culture of fear’, mistrust and intimidation within families and relationships in many African societies [13] In this regard, many countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, have mainstreamed gender-based violence strategies into budgeting and planning policies to intensify the alleviation of social-cultural values that enhance GBV [14].

Tanzania, just like other African countries, still experiences widespread cases of GBV in its different communities. In this regard, the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS, 2015-16) report indicates that over 20 percent of women in Tanzania aged 15-49 years have experienced sexual violence and 44 percent of married women have experienced physical and sexual violence.

Moreover, the Crime and Traffic Incidents Statistics (January- December, 2020) reports indicate that in 2020, the sum of 11,001 gender violence cases were reported across the country. These reports further specify that the most recurring incidents of GBV were rape, sodomy, child, human trafficking, homicide, child desertion and child stealing.

The regions with large magnitudes of GBV cases in Tanzania include Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Morogoro, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Katavi, Mwanza, Mara, Kigoma, and Mbeya, whereas those with small numbers of such cases include South Pemba, East Pemba and Urban West in Zanzibar (Crime and Traffic Incidents and Statistics Report [15f] However, Sengerema district is one of the districts in Mwanza region where GVB incidents are generally rife (Crime and Traffic Incidents Statistics Reports, 2015-2016). The district is infamous for being an area where physical violence is common such as the killing of people with albinism, women battery and severe inhuman punishment, and sexual violence such as forced marriage, early marriage and rape.

At the national level, the Government of Tanzania (GoT) has been exerting more efforts into promoting gender equality and its commitment to ending GBV has been unwavering as manifested by its enactment of laws and formulation of various policies. Indeed, national and local policies provide important opportunities for curbing gender-based violence. For example, freedom from GBV is one of the goals of Tanzania Development Vision 2025, whose broad objective is to create a strong economy and quality of life. This objective incorporates a framework of indicators, targets, and strategies for child protection, gender equality, and women’s empowerment as key to the realisation of sustainable development (Economic Commission for Africa [ECA], 2012 as cited in PEPFAR, 2016).

In 1998, the Tanzania government amended the Sexual Offences (Special Provisions) Act that incorporated crimes of sexual offenses in the Penal Code, Cap.16 (1945). In 2011, the government also passed the Female Genital Mutilation Act to protect women and girls from GBV, particularly in communities with die-hard traditional practices in addition to enacting a strengthened Marriage Act, which mandates equality in marriage (PEPFAR, 2016). Moreover, there have been institutional reforms necessitated by the need to prevent GBV proactively in Tanzania. In this regard, the Tanzania government has established gender focal point in each ministry in addition to providing training to these focal points on gender mainstreaming in government plans and budgets. Notably, the Police Force has initiated the Tanzania Police Female Network which enabled the creation of gender desks aimed to deal with gender-based violence at different police stations [16].

Although the government of Tanzania (GoT) has been exerting more efforts into bringing about gender equality and ending GBV, community media have more roles to play in complementing the government’s efforts to end GBV in the communities. For instance, in the Lake region of Tanzania, Sengerema community radio is accredited to be the long-serving radio in Sengerema, which has contributed to addressing many development challenges through education, knowledge and information sharing among the Sengerema community but also to the neighbouring communities of Geita, Biharamulo, Bunda, Shinyanga, Tarime, Mwanza, Kigoma and Kagera [17]. This study therefore, aimed to investigate the crucial role of Sengerema community radio in effectively addressing GBV in Tanzania. It focused on examining the level of community participation in radio-based dialogues related to GBV and assessing the impact of these dialogues in generating valuable knowledge and information for addressing GBV.

Methodology

The study was conducted in Sengerema district of the Mwanza region. Sengerema district was purposely selected due to the presence of a well-organized community radio station that has been operating for over 15 years. It is located in a rural area where incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) are generally prevalent, specifically within the Lake Zone of Tanzania where GBV incidents are common according to the Crime and Traffic Incidents Statistics Reports (2015-2016). A mixed research approach incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies was employed to gather data for this study. The research utilized a survey questionnaire from a sample of 204 community members aged 18 years and above as well as indepth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 12 participants who were purposely selected from radio program producers, editors, and managers.

The sample size of 204 respondents for community members was determined based on the population size of Sengerema which was documented as 663,034 individuals according to the official national census of 2012 . This determination employed the Slovin formula (n = (1 + Ne^2), where n represents the sample size, N stands for the population size, and e symbolizes the marginal error set at 0.05. Slovin’s formula allows a researcher to sample the population with a desired degree of accuracy (Stephanie, 2003). The calculation of Slovin's formula was executed as follows: n = 663,034 / (1 + 500,000 * 0.05 * 0.05) n = 663,034 / (1 + 1657.6) n = 663,034 / 1658.6 n = 400. Given the study’s methodology encompassing interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), 51 percent of the sample, amounting to 204 respondents was incorporated as survey participants.

To ensure a representative sample, a purposive sampling technique was applied, selecting five wards in the Sengerema district. These selected wards were in close proximity to Sengerema community radio, thereby representing the broader reach and catchment area of its radio programs. Within each ward, a simple random technique, employing a table of random numbers, was used to select two streets. Subsequently, a convenient sampling method was implemented to gather 20 to 21 respondents from each street or village, while maintaining gender balance and considering the criteria of being a radio listener. Data were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. For quantitative analysis, data and information collected using a questionnaire (i.e) derived from the use of closed-ended questions) were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. IBM Statistical Package and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 20 software was used to generate statistics, such as frequencies, percentages and other descriptions in relation to the study objectives. On the other hand, qualitative data collected that is in-depth interviews, FGDs and document review gathered using note-taking, tape-recording and other forms were manually analysed using thematic analysis (Robert Weber, 1990) (Table 1).

S/N	Ward	Street/Village	Respondents		Total
S/N	Ward	Street/Village	Male	Female	Total
1	Ibondo	Waarabu	10	10	20
1	Ibondo	Bulunga	10	10	20
2	Nyampulukano	Mnadani	11	10	21
2	Nyampulukano	Mwabayanda	11	10	21
3	Mwabaluhi	Kanyamwanza	10	10	20
3	Mwabaluhi	Kilabela	10	10	20
4	Ibisabageni	Busisi	10	11	21
4	Ibisabageni	Mjini Kati	10	11	21
5	Nyantukala	Jeshini	10	10	20
5	Nyantukala	Bomani	10	10	20
Total			102	102	204

Table 1. Sampled communities in Sengerema district.

Findings

Role of Radio Programmes in Addressing GBV Issues

Based on the in-depth interviews conducted with radio managers and editors, it was evident that Radio Sengerema had taken significant steps to address gender-based violence (GBV) issues and practices within the community. The radio managers emphasized that their policy dictated that approximately 90 percent of the radio content should cater to the needs and aspirations of the community, while the remaining 10 percent should cover general content, including national issues. As a result, a substantial portion (90 percent) of the content produced by Radio Sengerema, whether news or other programs, was dedicated to addressing community concerns, with a particular emphasis on GBV. The participants attested that radio programs had played a pivotal role in shifting people’s perspectives on gender-based violence. They cited a specific instance where Radio Sengerema effectively raised awareness about the detrimental consequences of diabolical acts, such as the killing of people with albinism, which had occurred in Sengerema. Notably, Radio Sengerema was the sole platform that consistently educated the public about the negative impacts associated with these abhorrent acts

We have managed to change the minds of community members on their perception of albinism by almost 70 percent. Now we are glad that, at least these incidents are abandoned, and many community members are ready to co-operate with our journalists in reporting violence in case they appear anywhere [18].

The radio management further claimed that, Radio Sengerema had been successful in collaborating with other organisations to design programmes aimed to fight against albino killings in the community, which was one of the major GBV cases in the area:

Through our partnership with organizations like Under the Same Sun, we have made significant progress in addressing critical issues such as the targeted killings of individuals with albinism. Our proactive efforts have positioned us at the forefront of educating the community in Sengerema about the importance of upholding human rights and respecting the dignity of all individuals. Our primary focus has been on preventing harmful traditional beliefs, and we are proud to report that our efforts have resulted in a noticeable reduction of such acts within our localities [19].

Moreover, the respondents elaborated on how the radio station had made a concerted effort to translate statistical data into accessible information and provide platforms for discussions on various issues pertaining to individuals with special needs who have experienced gender-based violence. This initiative aimed to raise awareness among the community, urging them to take this matter seriously. Additionally, the radio station emphasized the significance of providing education and support to individuals with special needs who are particularly vulnerable to violence, as highlighted by one male respondent

To date, the radio station has established a supportive system that facilitates gatherings for individuals with albinism to share their experiences and collectively discuss strategies for safeguarding their lives. A notable example is the program titled ‘Sauti ya Walemavu’ (The Voice of People with Disability), which provides a platform for individuals with albinism to engage in discussions aimed at putting an end to violence against them. Through this program, the authorities have effectively amplified the voices of individuals with albinism, enabling their concerns to be heard and addressed [19].

Furthermore, a significant aspect that emerged was the impactful radio program called ‘Haki ya Mwananchi’ (Rights of the Citizen), which fostered in-depth discussions between the program presenter and representatives from 'Under the Same Sun,' an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of individuals with albinism. This program provided a platform for individuals with albinism to actively contribute their perspectives on how they desire to be protected by both the government and the wider community. The program further facilitated a roundtable discussion, inviting active participation from diverse individuals, including members of society, civil society organizations, perpetrators of violence, and experts in gender-related issues. This inclusive approach allowed participants to share their personal experiences and collectively chart a way forward in addressing the various challenges stemming from gender-based violence.

Reflecting on the program’s impact, one of the editors highlighted its significance, stating

“We have a diverse range of programs that directly address the needs and concerns of our community. Examples include‘Kilimo na Mifugo’ (Agricultural and Livestock), ‘Dira ya Mwanamke’ (Women's Direction), and "Sauti ya Walemavu" (Voice of People with Disability). These programs have been carefully designed to actively involve the community, with a particular focus on empowering women, who are often the primary victims of violence. Our intention is to intervene in these challenges by not only engaging with the actual victims but also fostering a collective understanding among all stakeholders (IDIs, Male respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

Likewise, during the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), radio producers emphasized that Radio Sengerema develop various programs on gender-based violence (GBV) with the explicit aim of educating the Sengerema community and curbing incidents of GBV. They highlighted that while some instances of GBV arise from a lack of awareness about the law, others are rooted in deeply ingrained harmful cultural practices. In this context, the community radio programs have served as an invaluable source of education, shedding light not only on the need for behavioural change but also on the legal provisions pertaining to GBV within society. These programs have effectively disseminated information, equipping individuals with the knowledge to navigate and address GBV in accordance with the law [21].

In fact, some of people commit these misdeeds without, sometimes, not being informed of the laws that prohibit these acts; sometimes they do not even know that these acts have negative impacts on gender relations and development. Therefore, it has been our role as the Radio Sengerema to educate people through our programmes, news coverage and bringing perpetrators to the programme. For instance, the ‘Sauti ya Walemavu’ programme, which typically centres on empowering people with disability, has been a major light of the societies in Sengerema because initially these groups of people were more vulnerable to genderbased violence but now at least there is huge improvement (FGD, Female Respondent, Sengerema, 2019)

When discussing violence against women, all radio producers unanimously emphasized that Radio Sengerema has played a crucial role in educating and empowering women to combat gender-based violence. The radio station has actively contributed to raising awareness about women's rights, children's rights, and the social and cultural factors that contribute to violence. By focusing on these topics, the community education provided by Radio Sengerema has fostered a deep understanding of the root causes of violence. As explained by a female respondent, this comprehensive approach has been instrumental in addressing the underlying factors that perpetuate violence against women.

We have a programme such as ‘Haki ya Mwananchi’ which informs women on how to liberate themselves from economic challenges and how to recognise their rights which can be a solution to GBV emanating at the household level and show them how they can positively participate in development in generally. We also have programmes such as ‘Haki za Walemavu’ the rights of people with disability; it is a special programme for addressing problems facing people with disability. It has different topics on how to protect the right of these groups. In addition, problems such as stereotyping and marginalisation have been key areas of importance as we fight to address gender-based violence (FGD, Female Respondent Sengerema, 2019).

Furthermore, the key female informant specifically explained that, because Sengerema is a patriarchal society, in which women have been exposed to violence abetted by traditional values, programme producers have exerted much efforts in helping women liberate themselves from the trappings of patriarchal ideologies including what appeared to be socially-sanctioned GBV:

Through my programme ‘Dira ya Mwanamke’, we have been able to help people fight against gender-based violence resulting from the patriarchal system here in Sengerema. Women have been informed on how to act, such as taking legal measures for the violence done against them, empowering them in entrepreneurship and economic performance and empowering them in decision-making. As you know, women have no say in the family; they only depend on the men who, consequently, use this loophole as a way to commit violence against women. But since our programmes engage more women, we have witnessed different changes in women live; hence we have contributed to the reduction of violent acts against women (IDIs, Male Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

Implicit in this statement is the fact that the community radio has had a significant impact on the community. This finding is consistent with those of a study by Malik and Daniela (2012) who noted that, community radio can contribute significantly and meaningfully to the re-shaping of the attitudes and beliefs of the society on social cultural factors in which gender-based violence is embedded.

Community participation in the in radio-based dialogues on GBV

This category established from the questionnaires whether the programme producers and editors provided opportunities for community members to participate in GBV programmes. Table 2 presents the results, indicating that out of the community members involved in this study, 123 individuals (60%) were not given the opportunities to participate in the radio programmes. On the other hand, 81 respondents (40%) reported being involved in these programmes. It is worth noting that among the 81 participants, 47 (58%) were male, while 34 (42%) were female. These findings suggest that majority of the community member were not involved to the radio programmes, on other hand, the study suggest a higher likelihood of male participation in the radio programme compared to female participation (Table 2).

Category	Sex				Total	%
	Male	%	Female	%
Yes	47	58	34	42	81	40
No	55	45	68	55	123	60
Total	102		102		204	100

Table 2. Opportunity to participate in community radio (Field data, 2019).

Ways of Participating in GBV Programmes

Respondents were asked to indicate their preferred methods of participating in the radio programmes. Figure 1 illustrates the results, revealing that the majority of participants (58 individuals, accounting for 72%) reported using mobile phone calling and sending messages during GBV programmes. Among these participants, 30 (51%) were male, and 28 (49%) were female. The second most common method was sending messages through the radio station's social media accounts (Facebook), which was reported by 14 respondents (17%). Out of these participants, 9 (64%) were male, and 5 (36%) were female. Additionally, 6 respondents (7%), consisting of 3 (67%) males and 2 (33%) females, stated that they were invited to participate in live or recorded programmes on GBV [22].

Overall, the findings indicate that the majority of community members who participated in the radio programmes were engaged through mobile phone calling and sending messages during GBV programmes, as well as participating via social media platforms. However, it was observed that the major methods of participation such as being invited to the programmes and being used as sources of information on GBV were extremely low. Furthermore, there is a significant difference between men and women in their level of involvement across these different methods. Men were more actively engaged overall than women. These findings suggest that women may have less time or are less prioritized for participation in the programme, which aligns with the persistence of patriarchal ideologies and gender stereotypes that often undermine women's influence in social and economic development (Kumari & Joshi 2015) (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Respondents’ ways of participation in radio GBV programmes (Field data, 2019).

Factors Limiting Community Participation in GBV Radio Programmes

Figure 2 reveals the findings regarding the reasons behind the non-participation of respondents in the programme dialogue on GBV. Out of the total respondents, 51 individuals (41%) reported being preoccupied with daily activities, which prevented them from participating in the radio programmes. Among these respondents, 27 (53%) were male, while 24 (47%) were female. Furthermore, 48 respondents (39%) indicated a lack of interest in the programmes, with 14 (29%) being male and 34 (71%) female. Additionally, 18 respondents (15%), comprising 4 (22%) males and 14 (78%) females, cited the unreliability of the radio in terms of reach as their reason for non-participation. On the other hand, 6 respondents (5%), consisting of 4 (67%) males and 2 (33%) females, did not provide clear reasons for their nonparticipation. These findings highlight that community members were not fully engaged in the radio programmes due to their preoccupation with other daily activities. However, a notable challenge emerged among women, with the majority (71%) expressing a lack of interest in the programmes (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Reasons for not participating in the GBV radio programmes (Field data, 2019).

Type of Community Participants in GBV Radio Programmes

This aspect aimed to investigate the participation of different community members in GBV radio programs as news sources or invited guests. The analysis identified five groups of community members who were involved in these radio programs: indigenous women only, indigenous men only, community experts, political and religious leaders, and members of civil society in the community. The findings, as depicted in Figure 2, reveal that the majority of community members participating in the radio programs were predominantly from civil society, accounting for 24% of the participants. Experts from the community accounted for 23% of the participants, while both indigenous men and women comprised 19% each. Leaders from the community represented 15% of the participants. These findings suggest that a significant portion of community members involved in the radio programs were from civil society, followed by community experts, whereas the participation of indigenous men and women in the community was relatively lower (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Groups of community members participating in Sengerema community radio (Field data, 2019).

Challenges Facing Sengerema Community Radio in Addressing GBV Issues

This aspect aimed to examine the responses from the radio programme producers and editors on the challenges that the radio faced in addressing GBV issues and practices in its programmes. Many challenges emerged; however, most of the participants revealed the following as the major challenges [23].

Poor Co-operation from Local Leaders and Politicians

The participants reported that, though Radio Sengerema served as a community radio for Sengerema population local leaders and politicians have been the major obstacle for the radio in dealing with gender-based violence. They reported that these leaders sometimes cooperated with the perpetrators, especially when they were bribed. For cases such as teenage or early pregnancies among school children and rape, the leaders allegedly took bribes from the girl’s parent or the culprits who put the girls in the family way, hence the failure to prosecute such cases of GBV due to ‘lack’ of evidences:

For example, I once decided to cover a story on a girl-child who was raped and impregnated at Mbayanda area. In the process of covering this story, the parents were not ready to collaborate with me. When I tried to investigate further, I discovered that the village leaders and parents had resorted to corruption to muddle the case. When we wanted to report the incident, the girl’s parents did not show up to provide requisite evidence (FGD, Male Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

The concern expressed by radio producers was also expressed by Medie (2013), who argued that the power on how to react to GVB either in the media or other legal measures is determined by the power structure and political will of a given society or states, he argues that many African states have adopted laws that criminalize rape and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV), but the enforcement of such laws is often weak as many rape cases are never brought to court and victims are frequently encouraged to accept reconciliation instead of prosecution of offenders. This generally, implies that, journalists/reporters, as the part of the system, are limited by these circumstances which in many cases hinder their freedom in addressing GBV practices. Moreover, it was established that, people who were in power in Sengerema district sometimes imposed restrictions on some of the important programmes not to be aired because they feared that once these programmes were aired they could compromise their position or damage their reputation. In this regard, they sometimes issued an order to ban a programme if it threatened the interests of the minority with influence:

For example, one doctor was accused of raping a girl. When we wanted to cover the event, we were told that, how can we associate a prominent doctor with the shameful event like that? Therefore, we were ordered not cover and air that incident (FGD, Female Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

It was, however, explained further that due to political influences journalists feared even to cover issues on GBV which implicated with people in power, especially political leaders who had influence in the community’s decision-making machinery:

The other challenge has been the security of journalists who cover GBV events. Sometimes, we are not safe when dealing with these gender-based violence cases. Some of the perpetrators are so powerful that even us we become afraid of reporting them because, we are not guaranteed our security if we do, as we are afraid of being attacked. The journalists fear to cover the story of these kinds as they can put us in trouble like being tortured or even death. (FGD, Male Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

It against this backdrop, some of the community-based radio journalists resorted to self-censorship when it came to such GBV stories.

Financial challenges

The study also found that financing was one of the major challenges undermining the community radio’s efforts toward addressing GBV issues and practices. Lack of adequate financing was reported to affect the production and facilitation of the programmes on GBV, which needed a lot of money for the radio programme producers to come up with good programmes that can induce behavioral change associated with GBV practices. Specifically, they reported that the lack of money for transportation to reach the target victims and perpetrators in the rural areas was one of the key challenges. Moreover, lack of facilities such as vehicles limited the capacity of journalists to visit the target audience which is scattered. The following quotation exemplifies some of the answers the respondents provided on the issue of financial challenges:

The other is technical challenges, especially the financial one, as we expect to get stories from society either by visiting the real scenes of violence or calling our sources to come to the studio. The challenges occur when we want to visit news sources. We sometimes lack money for transport as you know we have no car for news or programmes and, sometimes, when we ask for the bus fare, we are neglected unless there is a special leader who is visiting that particular place (FGD, Female Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

The challenge has been the absence of financial support. For instance, our participants live in remote rural areas. When we prepare programmes, we are forced to visit them in the village or invite them to come to the studio for recording the programme. However, due to financial challenges such as transport fare and other monetary incentives, it becomes difficult to make the programme successful (FGD, Male Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

Moreover, it was established that the radio, sometimes, planned to invite the community members to participate in the programme. Since many of the community members had no money to facilitate their own transportation to and from the studio, the radio station was responsible for such transport facilitation. Due to financial constraints, the radio presenters and producers were forced to use community members in the vicinity, hence limiting the reach of those participating in the programme:

The major challenges are many of the gender-based violence cases occur in the interior. As the small community-based radio, we do not have enough funds to facilitate the journalists to go to all the places where these violence cases occur. The challenge has been the absence of transport as the station has not been given vehicle for the programme development or news coverage. Sometimes, we fail to cover important events in the rural area because of this challenge (IDIs, male respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

Implicit in this statement is a severe shortage of resources that could otherwise have facilitated the coverage of gender-based violence events and development of GBV programmes based on events occurring far from the studio area.

Cultural challenges

Furthermore, it was established that, Sengerema just like other areas in the Lake zone, continued suffering from the negative effects of die-hard patriarchal values. As a result, men were treated as the source of everything and women as subordinates with less power in terms of decision-making, ownership, and control particularly of land and other material possessions. This has also been the major challenge limiting Radio Sengerema bid to exercise its role in addressing GBV issues and practices. In Sengerema, women were reported by the radio crew generally found to have no say in the family. In some cases, when the radio journalists needed to interview women as well as children on GBV incidents, they need to get permission from men first. And sometimes these men were unwilling to grant such permission for their wives or children to speak due the nature of the problem and they feared that they could be implicated in the scandal. In this regard, employees of the community radio station explained that in some cases these patriarchal and cultural values prevented producers to deal with critical issues on gender-based violence:

The other challenge is on cultural aspect, which is based on patriarchy, especially for the women in the rural area. When we prepare our programme, we get challenges with women who cannot participate because they need to obtain permission from their husbands first (FGD, Male Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

As you know, about 90 percent of the community here lives under the traditional patriarchal system whereby the final say comes from men. This male chauvinism has affected our programmes or stories because for important issues we cannot interview women without the consent of men, especially in rural areas. Moreover, this problem has been a hindrance because most of the time men will not allow their wives to express themselves freely in our programmes (FGD, Female Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

Furthermore, due to cultural challenges, issues such as women stereotyping is popular among the victims of gender-based violence. In consequence, it was difficult for the radio producer to get information on GBV especially when women and children were ones affected in their respective families:

It is difficult for us to get stories from the community. For instance, many women in this area face gender-based violence such as battery at the hands of husbands and even rape. Tragically, many women are not ready to expose this violence against them because of their cultural barrier, the culture of silence, fearing what they will be labelled in society, including fear of being isolated by their fellow women as well as men for speaking out against men, including their husbands (FGD, Male Respondent, Sengerema, 2019).

Apparently, the cultural barriers that also promotes the culture of silence among victims of GBV is an obstacle that needs efforts of all and sundry, including community leaders, the government at both the central and local level, and both men and women in the community.

The finding of the cultural and political and financial barriers on community radio was also another observation by Shivram and Mu-azu. (2017), who did a study on the impact of FM radio broadcast in local dialect on rural community. Shivram & Muazu (2017) established that, cultural belief, religion beliefs and politics of given society have strong impact on the development and growth of media, particularly community media which exist in a confined community. With regard to financial challenge, Mrutu (2015) agrees that community radio should be financed and supported by the community members in which the radio operates. However, Mrutu concurs that, in some cases where the community radio fails to manage to run its programmes due to financial challenges, the government should intervene to save that radio for the interest of its people .

Conclusion

The study findings reveal that Sengerema community radio programs have made efforts to address gender-based violence (GBV) issues as part of their development agenda, albeit to a limited extent. While the radio station primarily focuses on development topics, the coverage of GBV has been constrained. The identified GBV issues tackled by the radio programs included forced and early marriages, violence against individuals with albinism, mistreatment of housemaids, and physical abuse. However, these incidents have not received substantial attention in the programs. On the other hand, the research highlights the important role played by the radio programs in educating and informing the community, resulting in positive changes in attitudes towards GBV. The programs have initiated debates on GBV, empowered women to speak out against their experiences, advocated for marginalized voices, and encouraged community involvement in exposing GBV wrongdoing.

In regard to community participation, the study findings indicate a minimal level of community participation in the radio programs. Out of the radio listeners surveyed, 60 percent had not actively participated, while 40 percent had done so. This finding underscores the limited avenues available for community engagement in the GBV programs, necessitating greater creativity and innovation. It was found that community members contributed to the preparation of GBV programs by sharing stories and providing information, as well as engaged with the programmes by offering feedback through phone calls, SMS messages, and social media platforms. However, physical participation in live or recorded programs was limited. The lack of community participation was primarily attributed to community members being occupied with daily activities and having limited time to listen to GBV programs. Furthermore, disparities in community participation were observed, with men being given more opportunities compared to women. Specifically, members from civil society organizations and gender experts received greater priority in the programs than community leaders and the general public.

During interviews and focus group discussions, several challenges were identified regarding the efforts of community radio in addressing GBV issues in the Radio Sengerema area. The major challenges identified include the lack of cooperation from community leaders and politicians, financial constraints, and cultural barriers. These factors posed significant obstacles to the community radio’s effectiveness in addressing gender-based violence. Additionally, the scheduling of GBV radio programs was found to be incompatible with the community’s commitments and responsibilities, further limiting their impact. The overall level of community engagement and commitment to other duties also affected the effectiveness of the radio programs in tackling gender-based violence.

In light of these findings, it is evident that while Sengerema community radio programs have made efforts to address GBV issues, there is still room for improvement. Greater attention to GBV topics, increased community participation, and addressing the identified challenges are crucial for the radio station to enhance its impact in combating gender-based violence and fostering positive change within the community.

Recommendations

Based on these findings and conclusion, the following recommendations are made and can inform subsequent steps geared towards enhancing the effectiveness of community radio particularly Radio Sengerema in disclosing GBV issues and malpractices as well as engaging the community in addressing them.

First, as the study found that, the radio has many development programmes but with less incorporation of GBV issues in those programmes. It is, therefore, recommended that, programme producers should increase the number of programmes on GBV and consolidate other development programmes with GBV content. Moreover, both men and women should be invited to participate in the programmes on GBV. Furthermore, care should be taken when interrogating the victims of GBV to safeguard their confidentiality and avoid negatives consequences that may arise after coverage

Second, the study established that the major means of community participation in the radio programmes on GBV is through call-ins and sending of SMS during live or recorded programmes. The radio managers and producers should establish other means of community participation in the media programmes, such as the use of station social media accounts, inviting people to participate physically in the programmes and using more community members as sources of information or news on GBV issues.

Third, as the findings also revealed that some community members did not listen to the radio programmes on GBV frequently because of their busy schedules or because the radio programmes on GBV aired conflicted with their schedules, Radio Sengerema programme managers should schedule their GBV programmes appropriately so that the majority of the community members can have access to those programmes.

Forth, the study also established that a large number of the community is not interested to the aired programmes on GBV, Programme producers should be creative in creating programmes that will attract more community members to participate.

Fifth, financial constraints are a major challenge to the effective operations of the radio in addressing GBV issues and practices, the radio management should find more financial sources and resources that can help boost the financial capacity of the community radio station.

Seventh, as the findings also reveal poor co-operation of local government leaders and politicians with radio Sengerema, there is a dire need for more education on community leaders and politicians on the importance of being engaged towards being change agents.

Lastly, the findings reveal cultural barriers rooted in patriarchy and stereotyping of women’s gender roles as another challenge facing the Sengerema community radio while addressing GBV issues and practices, there is a need to provide community education aimed to address cultural factors that limits women’s participation in decision-making as well as other social cultural barriers that disadvantage women and abet GBV practices.