adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
CDE Supa Mandiwanzira, the Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services says the country should brace for more television stations by mid next year as the government is working to beat the June 2015 digitalisation deadline. Officially opening Inxusa Festival in Bulawayo on Tuesday night, Cde Mandiwanzira said his ministry was working hard to meet the deadline to go digital.
He said the change from analogue to digital would open opportunities and create jobs for many in the broadcasting and arts sectors.
“The country is expected to have multiple radio stations by June 2015. We cannot go beyond June next year without digital systems as we are rushing against international deadlines,” said Cde Mandiwanzira.
“Digital broadcasting means that we are going to have multiple channels out of the channels that are already available. We are working closely with the regulators, who are experts in determining what is possible, as we need to balance the number of stations and the commercial aspect of the new expansion.”
Cde Mandiwanzira urged the arts industry to organise more festivals, saying the 75 percent local content would not change.
He said the government was also considering scraping duty on arts equipment.
“We are already looking at ways to support the arts industry by scrapping duty for imported arts equipment. Artists must sell and pay tax not to be penalised before they do their work.
“I know that this brings hope to artists and I want to promise them that their programmes will expand phenomenally in the next 12 to 18 months,” said Cde Mandiwanzira.
He urged universities and colleges to develop graduates that will produce Zimbabwean stories saying the country should not wait for film makers to come from Britain and other European countries to write stories about Zimbabwe.
“We need films that trace the journey of our leaders. Artists should be focused on telling our own story. They should also continue producing good work as the market is available,” he said
Cde Mandiwanzira said the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) was in the process of adjudicating applications from those intending to establish radio stations as it moves to open the air waves.
Online Reporter