Multichoice Africa has agreed to carry the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) radio signal on its DSTV satelite link in order to restore normal radio transimission countrywide
The development is expected to end months of weak radio reception in some parts of the country which happened when the satellite link, ZNBC was using to transmit its signal went off early this year.
Information and broadcasting Services minister Lieutenant-General Ronnie Shikapwasha disclosed this after he held a meeting with president of Multichoice Africa Collins Khumalo in Johannesgurg,South Africa yesterday (Tuesday).
General Shikapwasha said Government was concerned about the poor ZNBC radio reception being experienced in some parts of the country and was happy that a solution has been found.
Multichoice Africa president Collins Khumalo said at the same function, that his company has acquired additional space on its DSTV satellite to accommodate the ZNBC radio signal free of charge.
Mr Khumalo whose company holds 50% stake in Multichoice Zambia ,a DSTV joint venture with the national broadcaster,said the ZNBC radio signal wil be installed on the DSTV satellite as soon as technical logistics are in place and a contract signed between the two parties.
“This is a matter we are resolved to address as soon as possible,”said Mr Khumalo.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Services minister LT-General Ronnie Shikapwasha has commended Multichoice Africa for the contribution it is making to the growth of the broadcasting industry in Zambia.
Speaking after a conducted tour of Multichoice Africa facilities in Johannesburg ,South Africa yesterday ,General Shikapwasha said since its establishment as a joint venture with ZNBC in 1994, Multichoice Zambia has become a household name in Zambia through its provision of DSTV service providers on the continent.
The minister said he was impressed with the investment Multichoice has made in technology and human resource development trickle to the benefit of ZNBC through technology exchanges and training.
He said Government is also happy with the Multichoice’s social responsibility programme in which the company is providing support to the education and sports sectors in the country.
Earlier, Multichoice Head of Regulatory Affairs Mgqibelo Gasela said a total of $3billion has been invested in the growth of the company during the past two decades.
Mr Gasela said Multichoice Africa has over the past five years established 152 resource centres at schools in Zambia which it has equipped with decoders, dish kits and educational channels to supplement Goverment’s efforts in the delivery of quality education.
Mr Gasela said the number of beneficiary resource centres is set to increase to 200 this year with the addition of 40 more resource centres countrywide.
He said the company has also invested over $4million in the live coverage of the Zambian soccer league this season.
“As a company ,we prefer to work with Government rather than against Government .We are keen to contribute to the growth of the broadcasting industry and the economy in Zambia through our services,” said Mr Gasela.
Multichoice Africa operates in 48 countries across the continent.
ZANIS
this is a good development which should be supported by all meanful Zambians.
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paliba umona pali mudala Shikapwasha 😕
Great dress sense, General. Tie matches lips.
Bushe pali ne fyakutasha apa naimwe ba SS? Muleumfwako insoni.
ZNBC collects huge amounts of money form poor people, where does it the money to? Mukundya bvonse? and now you are depending on other countries to help you fix your inefficiencies. Shame.
Alistoto, I agree with you. I cannot believe the minister proudly says ” he is glad they have found the solution” they should take this as a temporary measure and channel all the funds that ZNBC makes to developing it’s own infrastructure. Isn’t ZNBC supposed to be bigger than Multichoice, It’s a shame when we begin comparing the quality of programming between the two companies. Let’s not even go there.
The Bandwidth of a radio station is almost negligable, 320kb/s compared to 4M for a Tv service on digital streams. So this should be a minor burden for multichoice. It is the cost of whole transponders on satellites that is prohibitive to ZNBC. They simply cant afford it.
Attention: Senior Citizen
Why does the whole of an Information and broadcasting Services minister (a full Lieutenant-General Ronnie Shikapwasha) go and meet a CEO of Multichoice Africa (Collins Khumalo) in Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday? What then is the job of the Director General of ZNBC? Multi-choice is a fairly large company because of its monolithic business. Anyway, I am sure the Minister was given the full multichoice treatment: Free Decoder, free satellite dish, free programming, free t-shirts etc.
He is wearing RED CARD tie??????
i thought ZNBC was going to use Multchoice to carry its TV signal to most of Africa and the rest of the country not just radio. Most of Zambia cant ACCESS znbc TV which is a shame for a national broadcaster who has been in bussiness longer than most broadcasters in AFRICA. Lots of Zambians in sorounding have a black out of information from home. Why not follow the example of Botswana TV and make ZNBC available outside Zambia as free to air?
This is what happens when Governments are still using things that were built by Sir Welensiky(sp) without updating to new standard or maintainance. South Africa is hearding the same way too with all that bazungu structure start falling apart due to no maintainance or up grade. Watch the space8->
Bana minister why dont you set up an independent board to run ZNBC that will manage the institution professionally. The board will be able to invest the licence fees wisely.
Please bana minister lay off you dirty hands from the institution concertrate on other pressing issues. Let ZNBC run independently, I can assure you it will do better without you interferences.
“As a company ,we……… prefer to work with Government…….. rather than ….. against Government .We are keen to contribute to the growth of the broadcasting industry and the economy in Zambia through our services,” said Mr Gasela.
Multichoice Africa operates in 48 countries across the continent.
This English is very African bane……..Prefer to…………does not go with rather than na imwe…….
:d:o:o
Where did this man go for mulongoti to keep making ichongo? Must have been in South Africa Morning side. Zoona umona has taken 36.9% iya nfeshi.
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