adminAuxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
THE Government has spent over $30 million on the digitalisation project with four sites ready to broadcast, the Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Cde Thokozile Mathuthu, has said.
Dep Min Mathuthu told Parliament that considerable ground has been covered in the digitalisation project since February this year, but more funds were needed to complete the programme.
She said following the signing of an agreement between the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) and Huawei International (Pte) Limited on 25 February last year, the Government was meeting its obligations.
“Ten percent advance payment was made by Government amounting to $12 965 000 of which $465000 related to VAT on service. Total payments made to the contractor to date amount to $22 655 420.86 and payments made towards local civil works and other local requirement, inclusive of satellite signal distribution amounts to US$7 861 831.50.
“This brings the total amount paid towards the project so far to $30 517 252.45,” said the Deputy Minister.
She said the project immediately requires about $27,2 million for further works.
Dep Min Mathuthu said four transmission sites: Kamativi, Kenmaur, Nyanga and Mutare are ready for broadcasting.
“It is correct that four transmission sites are already broadcasting in digital, but the challenge at the moment is that the Set Top Boxes are in bonded warehouses and the public will need those to access the signals. Once those have been paid for, I want to assure the Honourable Member and this august House that broadcasting will commence.
Approximately, $7 800 is immediately required for additional civil works and the ordering of Set Top Boxes,” said Dep Min Mathuthu.
She said Set Top Boxes would be required by the public to enable people to view digital television services on their existing analogue television sets.
Twenty four new transmitter sites have been identified to ensure maximum coverage for television services in the country.
Civil works have also been completed for two radio transmission and two radio production studios at Mbare in Harare.
“At Montrose studios in Bulawayo, civil works for two radio studios have been completed while work is at an advanced stage for the completion of two television studios,” said the Deputy Minister.
She said a property had also been acquired in Highlands, Harare which will double up as the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) central monitoring facility and the new BAZ offices.
“Satellite lease capacity has been secured with the satellite operator, Eutelsat of France, for the distribution of studio signals to the transmitter sites. However, discussions are underway with telecommunication operators for the deployment of optical fibre to connect the transmitter sites as a lasting cheaper national solution,” Dep Min Mathuthu added.
She said lack of funding was hampering the completion of the project hence its failure to meet deadlines.
“As it stands, it is no longer feasible to complete the digitalisation project by the revised projection of end of 2016 due to the non-disbursement of funds. New projections can only be made once there is certainty on the issue of funding,” the Deputy Minister said.
Online Reporter