Media reforms surpass target as NRTV set to be launched

Sunday Mail Reporter

MEDIA reforms being championed by the Second Republic continue to surpass expectations, with Zimbabwe’s sixth television station — NRTV — set to go on air this Tuesday.

NRTV will officially be launched on the DSTV Channel 288 at 10am, marking a key milestone in the continuing liberalisation of the media sector.

Already, four television stations — Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN Prime), 3K TV, KeYona TV and Jive TV — have gone on air since 2020, when the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) awarded six national commercial television broadcasting licences.

In an interview, NRTV acting general manager Mr Moses Matanda said the launch of the station is evidence of the Second Republic’s commitment to promoting media diversity and pluralism in the broadcasting industry.

“We are grateful for Government’s efforts to open up the airwaves,” he said.

“NRTV has been able to create employment not only for those who are directly working for the station but also independent producers that are also creating employment for the creatives across the country.

“Most importantly, these television stations are commercial, which promotes fairness and objectivity in the broadcasting of news and information.”

Since the beginning of this year, NRTV has been broadcasting on the Transmedia Digital Terrestrial Television platform.

Mr Matanda said in preparation for going on air, NRTV has recruited a talented pool of broadcasting experts from within and outside the country.

He paid tribute to the country’s largest integrated media company, Zimpapers, which owns ZTN, for helping nurture NRTV in its infancy.

“NRTV offices are in Newlands, where a massive state-of-the-art studio is still under construction.

“All this was done with the help of Zimpapers in the initial stages of our infancy as they have been in this industry longer than us.”

Mr Matanda said NRTV’s programming schedule will comprise 95 percent local content to promote independent local producers.

In an interview ahead of the launch, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza said the Government was pleased that NRTV is going on air.

“This is in line with our policy of opening up the airwaves as we have given six licences to new television stations, something which had never been done in the history of the country.

“Also, we now have a cumulative 32 radio stations at national and provincial levels, including 14 community radio stations.

“We have also liberalised the media by saying foreigners can own radio stations if they meet the ownership threshold of a maximum of 40 percent, which is higher than the obtaining regional average threshold of 20 percent.”

He said following the 2018 polls, most election observers called for media reforms to be in place before this year’s plebiscite, and Government has delivered.

“We have done everything and even surpassed what was recommended by the Motlanthe Commission and election observers. We did away with AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act) and replaced it with new legislation, in consultation with all stakeholders, including civil society.”