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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE government has started constructing television transmission infrastructure in areas that have never received television services as the digitalisation process gathers momentum.

Twenty four new sites have been selected for the transmission project and work is underway at 15 of them.

On Tuesday, the construction of the first television signal transmitter in Binga, an area which has never had television services, was launched.

Project engineer, Matthias Chakanyuka, said once the work is completed, Binga and surrounding will access television services for the first time.

“This is the first site to have the superstructure going up and the target area is Manjolo and Binga. What is important is that we’ve never had television services in Binga and surrounding areas. This is a milestone because for the first time we’re going to have television services in Binga,” he said.

Chakanyuka said construction works will be concluded in about two months.

“We’re looking at about three to four weeks’ time. After three to four weeks’ time this will be done then we start doing the perimeter fence, security, downing dish then we start the installation of electronics. Roughly we’re talking about maybe two months for this site to be complete and commissioned,” said Chakanyuka.

He said they have completed upgrading six sites including Kamativi, Harare, Nyanga, and Mutare among other places.

Binga district information officer, Paul Maketane, said the television signal will bring about positive change in the area as many people were eager to tell their own stories.

“We had cases of people producing content and sending it across the border. There is a radio station from Zambia which was playing their content and this (digitalisation) will give local people a voice they longed for,” said Maketane.