Chronicle Editor
Yoliswa Dube-Moyo, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
LACK of funds has stalled the revamping of the radio network in Gwanda through high-powered transmitters which are expected to cover a radius of between 80 and 120km.
The services in Gwanda cover a 40km radius.
The migration from analogue broadcasting to digital terrestrial television began in 2015 with the aim of finishing it in 2017 but so far, the project is 43 percent to completion.
Financial constraints have been cited as the main reason for the delays.
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) acting chief executive officer Mr Matthew Chakanyuka said foreign currency is required to purchase the transmitters needed to revamp the network.
“The revamping of the FM network in Gwanda is under the digitalisation project. We have a challenge of funding, particularly foreign currency which is needed to acquire the necessary transmitters. We’re appealing for funds from treasury to make sure that we revamp the network,” said Mr Chakanyuka.
He said a revamped network will translate to expanded coverage for the people in Gwanda.
“Right now, the coverage is about 40km radius. If we’re going to revamp, it’s going to double the coverage which means more people in that area will receive radio services. This will also mean information can be disseminated quickly to all those people,” said Mr Chakanyuka.
He said BAZ has a mandate to address the issue of coverage and make sure that communities residing near border areas where there are challenges of reception of radio and television services get coverage.
“As a regulator, we checked for those communities and decided to give them licences of a community nature, that’s why in this area, we’ve made sure that there’s a community radio station for the Ntepe-Manama area,” said Mr Chakanyuka.
Ntepe-Manama Community Radio is expected to go on air next month following delivery of broadcasting equipment to the community radio by BAZ at the weekend.
The community radio brings to life a long-cherished dream of the Babirwa people in Manama to have a local radio station broadcasting in SeSotho.
The digitalisation process is in compliance with international requirements.
The main reason for the world’s migration to digital is to release valuable spectrum which can be used for other services. Spectrum is scarce therefore, more efficient use of the spectrum is necessary if more terrestrial telecommunications and broadcasting services are to be made available.
Last year in April, the country switched over from the analogue signal to digital terrestrial television (DTT) under a US$125 million Zimbabwe Digital Broadcasting Migration project.
— @Yolisswa
Online Reporter