adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
“THE digitalisation programme is a technological revolution that is set to change lives of Zimbabweans through employment creation and cultural cohesiveness,” a Cabinet Minister has said. Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Christopher Mushohwe said this after touring four transmission sites in Binga, Hwange and Lupane districts in Matabeleland North Province.
Minister Mushohwe, his deputy Sithokozile Mathuthu, Permanent Secretary George Charamba and directors from the Ministry toured the sites at Manjolo, Kamativi, Chibondo and Kenmaur to have an appreciation of construction work in progress. Digitalisation equipment at Kamativi and Kenmaur was mounted on existing structures while at Manjolo and Chibondo construction started from scratch.
“This is really what we call Zim-Asset and not an abstract,” said Minister Mushohwe referring to the project.
Twenty four digital transmitters are being constructed countrywide to add to existing 24 that are being converted from analogue to digital. The country expects to switch on to digital next month, starting with Binga where work at Manjolo is expected to be completed on April 15 before installation of digital equipment.
Minister Mushohwe said everything will start in Binga as per President Robert Mugabe’s instruction. “This is a programme that Zimbabwe has been waiting for and this is something we must be proud of as a nation,” he said.
“Zimbabweans need to understand what migration from analogue to digital means. We’ve areas that have never been exposed to radio and TV and now they’ve an opportunity to listen to local programmes in their own language as well as see what other cultures have to offer.”
The Minister said for the digitalisation programme to succeed, there was a need for content.
“We want as much content as possible in minority languages and cultures so as to promote cultural cohesiveness. This will make Zimbabwe a national village,” said Minister Mushohwe.
He appealed to Zimbabweans to take the projects seriously because Zim-Asset hinges on everyone’s contribution.
Minister Mushohwe said the government wanted local civil engineers to head construction work at each and every digitalisation site. He said they had engaged the contractor Huawei on the issue.
Construction work at Manjolo is set to be completed mid next month after which workers will be moved to Chibondo.
At Kamativi and Kenmaur, digital transmission is already being tested.
Meanwhile, Minister Mushowe took the opportunity to visit Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga, a project that the First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe took over last year.
He told villagers in Binga that the First Lady was committed to seeing the project coming to fruition.
About 250 hectares have been cleared while workmen were busy laying water pipes from Zambezi River to the site. Equipment such as tractors, harrows, disc ploughs and other such equipment from Brazil has already been delivered to the irrigation scheme.
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