Online Reporter
Ray Bande in GARAHWA, Chipinge
THE ongoing construction of 48 multi-purpose communication towers at different sites across the country is part of Government’s efforts to close the rural-urban digital divide at a time when the country is seeking to attain 85 percent broadcasting transmission access by the end of this year.
Multi-purpose communication towers are part of the Zim Digital Tool programme which enables communities to access broadcasting signals and at the same time can also be employed by mobile phone network providers in the provision of mobile phone network to communities.
The latest multi-purpose communication tower to be completed is in remote Garahwa area of Chipinge South Constituency where villagers were not only relying on Mozambican mobile phone network providers such as Mobicel, but also had no access to local radio stations transmission.
In his address during the tour of Ndau Community Radio Station at the remote Garahwa area in Chipinge South Constituency which is very close to the border with Mozambique, Chief Director in the Ministry of Broadcasting Services, Information and Publicity Mr Jonathan Gandari said the project was already being rolled out.
“Government, as ably led by President Emerson Mnangagwa under the Second Republic, is determined to close the rural-urban digital divide through the provision of digital devices and networks to marginalised communities,” he said.
“Our wish as the Government is that the people in Harare and all other urban centres throughout the country get the same content as people in rural or once marginalised areas. “This dovetails into the national philosophy, as espoused by His Excellency President Mnangagwa, that no place and no person must be left behind in the national development discourse.
“To that end, we will be constructing 48 multipurpose communication towers at different sites across the country. This is under the Zim Digital Tool initiative that is meant to give all communities in Zimbabwe access to broadcasting transmission as well as mobile phone networks. In fact, this is a project that is already underway as evidenced by one of the towers that has been completed here in Garahwa Village of Chipinge South Constituency.”
