Malawi’s biggest youth brand, Zathu, continues to deliver transformational programming for the Malawi youth with another fresh and exciting radio programme.

The new radio magazine programme, which is expected to hit airwaves on 24 September 2022, will specifically tackle Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and Adolescent Boys and Young Men (ABYM) between the age range of 10-25 years.

“The show’s friendly presenter, C-Zee will be joined by a fresh new voice on radio, Kel-V, and together, they will continue to direct Zathu’s programmes on air and engage with young Malawians on different aspects of SRHR. The backbone of the Zathu show lies in the co-creation process with the young people being at the center of our programing.

“This is reflected in all segments of the show from the presenters, Timve Kwa Inu, the radio drama and the ever-wise agony aunt section with Aunt Nelly who answers some challenging questions that young people have,” reads a statement released yesterday.

Just like previous radio plays, the new drama will also give an opportunity to the audience to win various Zathu merchandise.

Further reads the statement: “The Zathu show is never complete without a chance for listeners to win different prizes and Zathu merchandise through our competition – make sure you listen to the programme either at home or participate in our vibrant youth radio listening groups across the country and stand a chance to win lots of Zathu branded merchandise!”

The premiere of the new season will be aired on Zodiak Broadcasting Station on 24 September 2022 at 14:00 every Saturday and after that MBC Radio 2 on Mondays, effective 26 September 2022 at 14:00 and repeated on Thursday from 15:00 on the same MBC Radio 2.

Zathu is a branded media initiative created with Malawian youth which aims to inspire, inform and connect girls and boys to information and services they need, and to take an action to change their lives.

The new programme falls under the Innovations in Health, Rights and Development (iHEARD) Project which is aimed at improving access to SRHR information and services by young people across Malawi, with a focus on the ‘rights’ aspect.

The five – year project is being implemented through a consortium of 6 local organisation with financial support from the Global Affairs Canada.

iHEARD will be implemented in Malawi at scale nationally, and intensively in the Central Region (Dowa, Ntchisi and Lilongwe Districts) by a consortium of health, education and communication partners co-led by CODE and Farm Radio International (FRI).

The project will dismantle barriers to SRHR for AGYW in Malawi, who are particularly vulnerable in terms of SRHR and human rights violations.