Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Kennedy Sakeni yesterday reconstituted a national taskforce on digital migration in a move aimed at accelerating Zambia’s digital migration process.
The reconstituted 11 member team will be headed by Zamtel chief technical officer Sydney Mupeta, who replaces Luwani Soko as Chairperson of the Taskforce.
Mr. Sakeni, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said government was confident that it has assembled the right brains and right competences to successfully guide the nation in migrating from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting within the stipulated deadlines.
He urged the taskforce to update the nation on the current roadmap on digital migration with particular emphasis on stakeholder and public sensitisation, consultation and participation to ensure a people driven digital migration process.
He stressed that the process should be inclusive of all stakeholders as both drivers and beneficiaries of the digital age.
Mr. Sakeni, who was flanked by his Deputy Minister Mwansa Kapeya, said it was government’s expectation that the reconstituted taskforce will engage in wide and extensive consultations with the public and other stakeholders in coming up with a policy framework on digital migration.
He called on all stakeholders to work with the government in making Zambia’s digital migration a success.
He also reminded the members of the taskforce that the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, has set June 17, 2015 as the deadline for all member countries to migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting.
At regional level, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) adopted December 31, 2013, as the deadline for digital migration.
This is in order to give countries in the region ample time to address teething challenges that may arise in the migration process ahead of the ITU deadline.
In view of both the ITU and SADC deadlines and the realistic timeline in which to mobilise resources, the government adopted December 31, 2014 as the date by which all analogue terrestrial television transmission shall be switched off in the country.
Mr. Sakeni has since congratulated the members of the taskforce on their well deserved appointments.
Other members of the taskforce include Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Acting Director for Planning, Press and Public Relations Beaton Kaluba, Ministry of Information Acting Chief Planner Boyd Chirwa, ZNBC Director of Engineering Malolela Lusambo and Airtel Head of Corporate Communications and Government Relations Jerome Kawesha.
Others are Casat television Managing Director Mutale Kaenga, Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) Director of Technologies and Engineering Patrick Mutimushi, Radio Christian Voice Technical Manager Francis Musonda, Ministry of Information Planner Philip Chilonga and Ministry of Information Public Relations Officer Susan Zulu.
ZANIS
Challenging. Good luck. Just not sure it’s a people led digital migration or we’ll be on the slippery slopes. Creating a pathway to new technology helps providers offer new products and services to the consumers. The consumer benefits from improved technology. It’s the suppliers of those products and services that need to read their market loud and clear and find an affordable way (for the average household) to implement what is a global change. Zambians will embrace technology and become increasingly tech savvy as evidenced by mobile technology or how FB has spread continentally in 3 years. Content providers take note. It’s going to become about content in the digital realm.
The Bembas are the only qualified persons to be in this board??? Just thinking aloud
I think Tongas may like useless discussions and boards.
I don’t even know why I am commenting on things of no interest and I don’t even understand. Moreover, I don’t know or never heard of those appointed on board, and I have no interest in Sakeni’s behavior anyway.
Bwanfya !!!
More money in their pockets!
LAST TIME THE PS OF INFORMATION WAS PRAISING THE TASK FORCE SITTINGS ON THE COPPERBELT ESPECIALLY THE ATTENDANCE OF TWO LECTURERS FROM THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY,WHY NOT INCLUDING THEM.
MWANAMULUME, YOU GOT A STRONG POINT. THIS IS WHERE ZAMBIA GOES WRONG. HOW DO THEY SIDELINE THE LEARNING INSTITUTION? AFTER ALL CBU HAS A SOT (SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY) DEPARTMENT AND ELECTRONICS IS A BIG THING AT CBU. AND’ IMITI IKULA EMPANGA’, IS ALWAYS ON THIS PEOPLES’ LIPS. IS IMITI IKULA…, ONLY WHEN YOU WANT VOTES?
All the best team. We trust you will deliver.
Its about time they migrated to the more versatile more powerful by far superior quality digital signal (with interactive capabilities)….my question is – why should Zamtel chief technician Sydney Mupeta head this team? Surely the man should already have his hands full with updating Zamtel primitive services….why not advertise or head-hunt Zambians within and abroad who will bring something new to the table. There are Zambians abroad working in this sector who can easily take up this task.
Sakeni, this is the only good thing you have done since PF got in Govt, to replace Luwani Soko with Mupeta. Soko is very useless guy. Ba Yaluma, remove him even on E-Gotv project, if this project has to see the day light. this guy is non-performer
98% bembas and 2% easterners. are they the only ones qualified? just thinking.
After Tanzania migrated already, thus when u are forming tunthemba forces? ATASE MA RUBBISH
What will happen to OSCAR PRISTORIOUS olympics career, now that he is facing murder charges? and when he goes to prison will he do any physical work considering his disability?
Brrravo Kennedy! Impunity is gone. Digital migration is government of utmost urgency. Any procrastination must be met with punishment. Tanzania, here I come!
Soko at it again. He pretended for too long.