Radio Salus goes off air again

HUYE – A few years ago, Radio Salus was one of the most popular radio stations in the country, thanks to relatively qualified reporters and well-packaged programmes. But, today, its credibility and image has been dogged by its failure to consistently remain on air.Radio Salus, owned by the National University of Rwanda (NUR), was mostly popular among the youth. Most of its presenters were students at the UNR’s School of Journalism.Late last year, Salus went off air for almost three months after losing its transmitters to power fluctuations. It resumed broadcasting early this year. But even after the transmitters were replaced in July, the radio station could not remain on air all the time.The New Times has established that since January, the station has been off-air three times – sometimes taking weeks.Since last Thursday, it has been off – again – once more due to transmitters’ failure.A number of listeners interviewed in Huye District expressed disappointment over that ‘persistent’ failure for the station to remain on air. They said they were concerned that nobody bothered to explain the future of the once revered radio station.Lambert Baributsa, a resident of Gishamvu Sector, told The New Times he was ‘saddened’ by the sustained failure by the radio station to deliver to its audience.“I am even bitter,” he stated. “We turn our receivers on only to find it not emitting. No one even bothers to inform us what is going on. It is so sad,” said a seemingly irked Baributsa, who said he was a loyal listener of Radio Salus.Emmanuel Hakizimana, a mechanic, said it was urgent for relevant authorities to get the station back on air and make sure it keeps on the airwaves.“We want it back on air because we are missing our favourite programmes,” Hakizimana said.Speaking to this newspaper, the station director, Aldo Havugimana, said they are making every effort to ensure that the radio gets back on air “soon”.He said the supplier of the recently installed transmitters is expected in the country this week to evaluate their condition and decide whether to replace or repair them.“The transmitters are still under warranty,” Havugimana insisted.Launched in 2005, Radio Salus broadcasts on two frequencies; 97.0FM and 101.9FM.In November 2010, it first lost its 101.9FM transmitter, consequently losing its Kigali audience. And late in 2011, its 97.0FM transmitter was as badly damaged, with the station going off air for some time.Jean Baptiste Mutabazi, the head of Communications and Media Regulation Department at the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA), told The New Times that by failing to deliver to its audience, the radio was losing a big part of the market.When asked whether in such a case RURA can take measures or penalties against the station in the interest of the consumers, Mutabazi was cagey, insisting the situation was primarily affecting the radio station itself.“We do not rush to punish, but rather we prefer giving warnings to the concerned parties. And that happens after conducting our own investigations,” Mutabazi said, adding he was not aware of Radio Salus going off air once more.Information on RURA website indicates that consumers can lodge complaints about poor quality of product or service, service interruption, poor customer care and service delivery, among others. After a thorough analysis and assessment of the situation, the regulator has the right to act and penalize the utility accordingly in the spirit of consumer protection.