Funding critical for timely information sharing: Minister

Mkhululi Ncube-Bulawayo Bureau

INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda has called for increased funding for the ministry in the 2027 National Budget, saying adequate resources will be critical to ensuring Zimbabweans receive timely information on preparedness measures for the anticipated El Niño-induced drought.

The minister said Government communication would play a crucial role in raising public awareness, disseminating early warnings and educating communities on practical measures to mitigate the effects of drought.

Presenting the ministry’s budget requirements during the 2027 National Pre-Budget Seminar in Bulawayo yesterday, Minister Soda said the ministry had requested approximately ZiG$1,077 billion for 2027, saying its mandate was crucial towards national development and disaster preparedness.

“The ministry’s budget request for 2027 is approximately ZiG1,077 billion. This request is intended to address our operational requirements, outstanding obligations, infrastructure development priorities and the expanding demands of Government communication,” he said.

“The budget envelope communicated to us is approximately ZiG$549 million, which is substantially below the amount we have requested.

“We, therefore, appeal for an upward review of our allocation, taking into account the strategic importance of our mandate and the significant responsibilities we are expected to discharge in 2027.”

Minister Soda said the coming year will be particularly important in communicating critical information concerning the El Niño-induced drought, including preparedness measures, resilience-building initiatives and practical actions that communities and households should take to mitigate its effects.

“We cannot meaningfully speak about resilience and preparedness when citizens are not adequately informed about the measures they need to take. Effective communication is, therefore, not an optional activity. It is a critical component of disaster preparedness, public awareness and national development,” he said.

“For this reason, we believe that our budget request deserves serious consideration and, where possible, an upward adjustment to enable us to carry out our responsibilities effectively.”

Minister Soda said effective communication was essential to ensuring that citizens understood Government policies and were equipped with the information needed to respond to national challenges, including climate-related disasters.

He said the appeal comes amid concerns over the gap between the ministry’s approved budget and actual cash disbursements.

The ministry’s 2026 budget stood at approximately ZG$463 million, but only 39 percent had been released.

The minister said the shortfall was creating difficulties in meeting financial obligations and implementing programmes.

He said the ministry had also accumulated outstanding obligations, including approximately ZiG127 million in local currency carried over from 2024 and 2025, as well as a further ZiG86 million accrued during the current year.

The minister said the outstanding payments had placed pressure on the ministry’s operations and called for a clear framework to settle the obligations.

“The permanent secretary in the ministry has been engaging with Treasury to find a way,” he said.

Beyond funding constraints, the ministry is seeking to expand broadcasting coverage to improve access to information, particularly in underserved communities.

Radio coverage currently stands at 84 percent, up from 81 percent at the beginning of the year, while television signal coverage is approximately 38 percent.

“At the beginning of the year, radio coverage stood at approximately 81 percent. It has since increased to 84 percent, representing an improvement of about three percentage points.

“Our immediate target is to reach 85 percent, while our long-term objective is to achieve universal radio coverage by 2030,” he said.

The minister said further transmitter installations were planned for 2027 as part of efforts to expand broadcasting services, with the long-term objective of achieving universal radio coverage by 2030.

He said the ministry was also working on setting up the Bulawayo Media Centre to improve quality production of content.

“Upon completion, this facility will provide the southern region with modern media production, broadcasting and press infrastructure.

“It is expected to strengthen the capacity of media practitioners and improve the production and dissemination of information in the region. We have recently completed the architectural and technical designs and the project has been identified as one of our priority initiatives for 2027,” he said.

Source: Funding critical for timely information sharing: Minister – herald

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