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Article Title: Theatre To The Ear: Exploring Community Participation In Gender Based Violence Radio Drama Interventions In Zimbabwe
by Julia Yule, Dr Ephraim Vhutuza, and Christina Gwirayi

Abstract:
The paper examines the role of community participation in fighting gender based violence (GBV) through radio drama interventions. The Purpose of the study was to unpack community participation in efforts to eradicate gender based violence. Gender based violence especially against women has become epidemic in Zimbabwe and has destroyed homes and communities. The research is drawing its attention to radio, as radio allows listeners the freedom to listen, imagine, feel, critically think and consciously or unconsciously dialogue. A case study design was adopted as the operational framework for data gathering. Data was collected through Savannah Trust gender based violence radio drama intervention titled Remembering Maiguru Mai Reward. Savannah Trust with support from the Culture Fund and the Swedish Embassy came up with a seven-episode radio drama programme that sought to raise awareness and dialogue on issues of GBV on Star FM radio station. It then hosted panel discussions and live phone in and WhatsApp feed that allowed listeners and the panel to engage with issues raised by the drama. Interviews were also conducted with the drama cast and some of the data was obtained from the newspaper reviews. However, the limitation of the study is that Star FM radio does not cover most areas at or around the borders of Zimbabwe and because of that handicap, the study left out a significant percentage of the population. The paper aimed at interrogating the effectiveness of radio drama interventions in stemming the scourge of gender based violence in Zimbabwe especially against women.

Keywords: community participation; gender based violence; radio drama; interventions

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