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The Herald, August 23, 1985
THE Prime Minister Cde Mugabe, says the Mazowe earth satellite station will make a significant contribution to the development and transformation of Zimbabwe and reduce the country’s dependence of South Africa.
Opening the station yesterday he said: “Before independence, our country was virtually South Africa’s sixth province. All our important socio-economic institutions had links with that country and in many cases were controlled from there.
“This situation was totally politically unacceptable to us as an independent nation with strong views against apartheid.”
He said that at independence in 1980, the Government became aware of the gaps, pitfalls, and inadequacies in most of the facilities and services provided during the colonial era.
This was because the provision had been on a selective, racial basis and for the benefit of a small minority.
“My Government insisted upon the provision of efficient telecommunication services which are essential in our struggle to speed up the political, economic, and social development of our country.
“We have been particularly anxious to reduce speedily our dependence on South Africa in the area of telecommunication. “Our telecommunications links with the outside world at independence were entirely dependent on the South African system.
“Given the tensions in this sub-region sparked by the apartheid monster to the south of us, this situation exposed our telecommunication lines to the South African interference and eavesdropping to an acceptable degree.
“We have already suffered great hardships as a result of South African interference with our lines of trade to the sea,” said Cde Mugabe.
Having recognised the need for an earth satellite station just after independence, Cde Mugabe said, he had paid a visit to Japan in May 1981 where he had expressed interest in technical co-operation with that country.
A feasibility study followed with the help of the International Telecommunication Satellite Organisation in Washington.
The tender for the supply and installation was won by Japan after a “lengthy, cumbersome” evaluation process, said the Prime Minister.
“Following the recommendations that both technically and economically the Mazowe Valley was the suitable site for the earth station, negotiations were concluded with Mazowe Citrus Estates to acquire the piece of land on which the earth station stands today,” he said.
Cde Mugabe said the Government was particularly encouraged by the plans underway to upgrade the internal system through automisation of some rural telephone exchanges and the establishment of new ones.
But this would not be achieved overnight, especially for a Zimbabwe that had lost most of its experienced engineers and technicians when it introduced a new order in 1980.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- The Mazowe Satellite Station was built by the Japanese Company Sumitomo Corporation, assisted by Zimbabwean technicians.
- The construction of the Mazowe Satellite meant that Zimbabwe had now direct telephone links with Europe, the rest of Africa, and North America.
- The construction was completed in less than 10 months, which is a record for the construction of an Earth Satellite Station of that magnitude.
- The turn on the century saw the introduction of mobile phones which has increased phone penetration among all people irrespective of social status.
Online Reporter