Second Republic fully supports media plurality

Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring that the information and entertainment needs of all the country’s citizens are met as it enhances the Second Republic’s thrust of meeting all spheres of human development.

In a pre-recorded speech at the launch of KeYona TV in Bulawayo yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said since the assumption of office by the Second Republic, the journey towards media pluralism has been very fruitful.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government’s media reformative agenda continues to transform the media landscape in pursuance of the digital migration project which is now 40 percent complete.

She underscored the potential of Bulawayo to become the Bollywood of Zimbabwe, as the city is a cultural hub where a lot of content has been produced for consumption by the rest of the country.

With KeYona TV launched yesterday (Saturday) it joins the Zimbabwe Television Network (ZTN) and 3 KTV  which are now operational among the six commercial television stations that were licenced.

“The launch of KeYona TV here in Bulawayo is testimony of the Government commitment to media reforms, to open up the airwaves and allow for more and diverse voices in broadcasting.

“The launch of KeYona TV is a huge opportunity for Bulawayo and the surrounding areas to tell the untold stories of business persons who are building the economy brick by brick but have remained in the shadows because of lack of coverage,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said the arts industry has found a fresh outlet to showcase its talent and creativity given thatfor a long time they have lamented the lack of access to television platforms.

The Minister said they were a listening Government which takes everyone on board and leave no one and no place behind.

“I, therefore, urge artistes from Matabeleland provinces and beyond to utilise this opportunity. Launching KeYona TV here in the City of Bulawayo gives us pride as a nation.

“Bulawayo is the cultural hub of Zimbabwe. The film and theatre industry has been blossoming for many years and a lot of content has been produced from Bulawayo for consumption by the rest of Zimbabwe,” she said.

“I strongly believe that Bulawayo has the potential to become the Bollywood of Zimbabwe. The Second Republic fully supports media plurality and the country is on the verge of a new age in information dissemination and access.”

Of the three other new stations to be launched that include Rusununguko Media (Pvt) Ltd trading as NRTV, Acacia Media Group trading as Kumba TV, and Channel Dzimbahwe trading as Channel D, she said they continue to mobilise resources to capacitate them.

The Deputy Minister, Cde Kindness Paradza who was at the launch  said the Government has made tremendous progress in realigning the legal and regulatory framework to the provisions of the country’s Constitution.

He said they have enacted the Freedom of Information Act, the Zimbabwe Media Commission Act and the Freedom of Information Regulations which provides ambiance for the realisation of freedom of expression.

Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube praised the Second Republic and said KeYona TV was a huge milestone for Bulawayo.

She said the city had a lot of talent and creatives, hence the need to harness these and showcase Bulawayo.

Minister Ncube paid tribute to the late Cont Mhlanga one of the pioneers of Theatre and Film as well as one the founders of Skyz Metro FM, Breeze FM and KeYona TV.

KeYona TV chief executive officer Dr Qhubani Moyo thanked the Second Republic for opening up the media space and allowing latent talents to showcase their gifts.

He said KeYona TV which will be accessed using the Azam TV digital satellite service provider and Zimbabwe Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DDT) platform is expected to help build national cohesion and enable all Zimbabweans to celebrate their diversity and harness talents for the greater good of national development.