Good news from Bob Bartz, Ministry Specialist for South and Central Africa, about the Radio Wimbi project.

"One of our strategic radio projects in southern Africa is the development of a community FM radio station in the port city of Pemba in northern Mozambique. Radio Wimbi was conceived back in 2009 and yet progress so far has been slow. Pemba is a strategic city in the region, a gateway to development, with three different people groups living and working together. One of the struggles slowing progress was finding the right person to lead this project in Pemba," reports Bob Bartz, Ministry Specialist for South and Central Africa.

"It is critical to the success of the project that the Project Coordinator live in the community and is regarded as a local person. After much searching and struggles within Radio Feba Mozambique (Feba's local partner in the country), a Project Coordinator has now been appointed. Narciso Zandamela, formerly the programme director for Feba in Maputo, has agreed to relocate to Pemba and take on this important role.

Moving to Pemba
"Please pray for Narciso as he has a number of immediate challenges to assume this new role. He is now in the process of moving to Pemba, finalising affairs in Maputo and moving to Pemba in August. At first he will stay in a partner ministry's guest house, get acquainted with members of the local association, and start to interact and engage with the local community.

Joining community radio workshop
"In September, both Narciso and I will be visiting Indonesia to participate in a community radio workshop organized in part by Feba Radio. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce project managers like Narciso to the fundamental elements and issues in a community radio environment that are critical to a station's success and acceptance in the community. Please pray this will be a valuable experience for both Narciso and me so we are better able to work together to shape Radio Wimbi into the station that will meet the needs of the people in Pemba."