Govt targets 85% radio coverage by year-end

Source: Govt targets 85% radio coverage by year-end ⋆ Pindula News

The government says five new broadcasting transmitters will be installed before the end of the year as part of efforts to expand access to broadcasting services across the country.

The rollout is expected to increase national radio coverage to 85 per cent, while television coverage will rise from the current 38 per cent to 42 per cent.

This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda on Thursday after touring exhibition stands operated by entities under his ministry at the 116th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.

He was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana and other senior ministry officials.

Soda said the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), Transmedia Corporation and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) were working together to strengthen the country’s broadcasting infrastructure and expand access to information.

“We started with BAZ, which is responsible for managing the signal, whether the signal is actually reaching the people with the correct strength,” he said.

Soda said the ultimate goal was to ensure that people across the country could access information and participate meaningfully in national development.

He said a major development was the launch of ZBC’s Over-the-Top (OTT) platform, Z+, last month, which allows audiences to access news and programmes on demand.

The platform also enables users to stream radio stations and watch television channels on their mobile devices.

“Using your device that is in your pocket, you can still be connected, and you can still be informed. You don’t necessarily need to be at home,” he said.

Soda said equipment for the five new transmitters had been acquired by Transmedia, with installation expected to be completed by year-end.

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