The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe’s (BAZ) acting chief executive, Engineer Matthias Chakanyuka, recently stated that the authority needs more than US$71 million to complete the digitisation of national television services, which began in 2015.
Chakanyuka told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services that 18 transmission locations had the digital television transmitters needed for a comprehensive free-to-air service across the country, with another four scheduled to be equipped by the end of the year. The project’s budget was initially set at US$175 million but was later reduced to US$145 million, with US$73,5 million already spent, leaving a balance of US$71,5 million.
The slow disbursement of monies by the Treasury, according to Eng Chakanyuka, is delaying implementation. Fourteen of the remaining 20 locations have been completed and are awaiting equipment installation, while four others are still under construction.
“Owing to the timeous delivery of budgeted funds, the project will install equipment on four additional transmission locations before the end of 2021. Thus, the number of digitally equipped transmission locations will rise from 18 to 22 as a result of this.”
Eng Chakanyuka also stated that the government needed to fund the procurement of set-top boxes so that households could receive digital television broadcasts. Many homes still have TV sets that are built to receive analogue broadcasts and are not digitally compatible. The three companies which were approved to procure the set-top boxes have yet to deliver them. Around 3,5 million set-top boxes are required in Zimbabwe.
The broadcasting authority has thus far lost 25 of its 35 engineers, which will severely impact the digitalisation process. According to Eng Chakanyuka, some of the engineers have gone abroad or to the newly-licensed private radio and television stations.
