Zimpapers Logo

an official has said.
Addressing Government officials and villagers at the commissioning of radio and television transmission equipment at Radar Farm in the watershed area of Bulilima District on Thursday, the Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity Mr George Charamba said Government wanted greater access to broadcast services.
However, this was being hampered by the inadequate infrastructure.
“There is a lot of talk about the liberalisation of airwaves in the country. But before we allow more players to come aboard, there is need to invest in the infrastructure that will allow the new broadcasting stations to operate efficiently.
“At the moment the infrastructure we have does not allow us to do that,” Mr Charamba said.
He said those interested in establishing community broadcasting stations should organise themselves and come up with a licensable structure.
Mr Charamba stressed that community stations should not be hijacked to serve foreign interests. He said Government was committed to providing radio and television transmission services to all remote areas, starting with border towns.
“We have come up with a deliberate policy to prioritise installation of broadcast transmission in the border towns countrywide and then move inland towards the cities.
“This is in recognition of the colonial legacy which has greatly affected people in remote areas since independence.
“Border towns have especially been de-nationalised for too long. We are now in charge of the country and cannot blame the past anymore.
“The time has come for us to rectify this colonial anomaly.”
Mr Charamba emphasised the importance of communication to development.
Transmedia Corporation board chairman, Dr Paul Chimedza, said they were committed to ensuring the whole country had radio and television transmission.
“We know that people in remote areas have historically been denied the choice of accessing local broadcasting media and had to listen to foreign and hostile stations.
“Transmedia Corporation is determined to make a difference for the people of Zimbabwe,” said Dr Chimedza.
“New sites are being constructed to provide radio and television transmission to border areas such as Beitbridge, Mudzi, Victoria Falls, St Alberts in Dande Valley and Plumtree.”
Dr Chimedza said illegal Western sanctions on Zimbabwe had hampered installation of equipment.
He said they faced problems in sourcing equipment and funds because of the embargo. Transmedia chief executive officer Mrs Florence Sigudu Matambo said people in Plumtree could now tune into national radio and television stations. The television transmission covers a 70km radius while that radio coverage is 90km. Matabeleland South Governor Angeline Masuku said the transmission would off-set the chaos caused by pirate radio stations.
Zanu-PF national chairman, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, the chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media and Information Mr Seyiso Moyo, Public Service Deputy Minister Andrew Langa, his Higher and Tertiary Education counterpart Lutho Tapela and Chief Kandana attended the commissioning.