Zimbabwe to have more than six television stations by year end- Mutodi

ZwNews.com

The Deputy Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Energy Mutodi says Zimbabwe will have six television stations by end of this year.

Mutodi told parliament last week that government has initiated a sustainable digitisation programme, that would see five television stations coming on board.

He said the programme was  now half-way done and will be completed this year as the government continue to engage partners such as Huawei and others to ensure that by the end of this year, the country would have more  than six television stations. He added that this would also witness an increase in the number of radio  stations.

“So far, a significant amount of work has already been covered  as television stations have already been licenced by the Zimbabwe Media Commission.

“We are just waiting the completion of the digitalisation programme for them to kick-start their work,” said Mutodi.

He was responding to a question by Chegutu West Member of Parliament Dexter Nduna who wanted to know progress regarding the digitalisation programme.

“My question goes as follows. I ask the Hon. Minister of  Information and Publicity how far we are in terms of the programme of  digitalization, aware that Parliament is also supposed to benefit  according to Section 141 of the Constitution in the digitalisation  process. How far are we from the programme of digitalisation and the expansion of our airwaves and frequencies?” Nduna had asked.

Since independence Zimbabwe has had limited number of television stations, the more they have been, was at a time when the country had two television stations, ZBC TV and a private one Joy TV which was switched off the airwaves, on allegations of having had failed to renew a contract with the national broadcaster.

Since then, Zimbabwe had to contend with only one television station, ZBC TV.