GOVERNMENT says Zimbabwe’s dream to fully digitalise is so many years behind with only 18 transmitters currently digital compliant.
Outgoing Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services deputy minister Kindness Paradza said this during a media breakfast meeting hosted by the Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking in Harare last week.
“As journalists, we should defend Zimbabwe with a right and proper narrative now that we have reformed the media. We no longer have bad laws but laws we did with you (media). There are so many media outlets now because President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa in his wisdom decided to reform the media,” he said.
“We only have three items left. The number one is complete digitisation because right now out of 48 transmitters, only 18 are digital compliant. We are years behind because of the economy. We cannot have US$8 million to complete the programme.”
Paradza said the amended Broadcasting Services Act was set to be tabled before Parliament, adding that the Media Practitioners Bill was also pending.
“Amendments have been done and we are now waiting for the next Parliament. We have allowed foreigners to come and invest in the broadcasting services sector.
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“We have allowed foreigners to have 40% shareholding and directorship is also 40%. In the region, it’s only 20%. We have said with my boss (Monica Mutsvangwa) that we want to transform this industry into a multi-million-dollar industry,” he said.
Paradza added: “The other final aspect is the Media Practitioners Bill where you’re going to set your own styles. This is where we are going to get respect.”
He also said journalists lacked respect because their profession had been hijacked.
“We have allowed lawyers to take over. Journalism is a profession which I respect so much. That’s why I remain a journalist,” he said.