Cabinet team optimistic over digitisation Ministers (from left) Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs), Samuel Undenge (Energy and Power Development), Josaya Hungwe (State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education and Vocational Training), Miriam Chikukwa (State for Harare Provincial Affairs) and Christopher Mushohwe (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services) listen as Engineer Matthias Chakanyuka explains operations in a ZBC control room in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)
Ministers (from left) Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs), Samuel Undenge (Energy and Power Development), Josaya Hungwe (State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education and Vocational Training), Miriam Chikukwa (State for Harare Provincial Affairs) and Christopher Mushohwe (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services) listen as Engineer Matthias Chakanyuka explains operations in a ZBC control room in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)

Ministers (from left) Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs), Samuel Undenge (Energy and Power Development), Josaya Hungwe (State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education and Vocational Training), Miriam Chikukwa (State for Harare Provincial Affairs) and Christopher Mushohwe (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services) listen as Engineer Matthias Chakanyuka explains operations in a ZBC control room in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Cabinet ministers yesterday expressed optimism that the digitisation exercise being carried out at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and other sites nationwide would be completed soon despite financial challenges.

In an interview soon after touring ZBC studios, the five ministers said they would do all in their power including approaching President Mugabe to ensure that channelling of resources towards the project be prioritised.

The ministers said this after a briefing from Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) chief executive, Engineer Obert Muganyura who said while a lot of ground had been covered the project had been stalled owing to funding challenges, a development that could lead the contractor leaving the site for other projects.

The delegation comprised Ministers of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Dr Christopher Mushohwe, Foreign Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Energy and Power Development, Dr Samuel Undenge, Minister of State, Liaison on Psychomotor Activities in Education Cde Josiah Hungwe and Provincial Affairs Minister for Harare Province Cde Miriam Chikukwa.

The ministers expressed satisfaction with the ground that had been covered and committed themselves to making a contribution to ensure the completion of the programme which they said was a national project anchored on Government economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.

“This is an important project which if we fail we would have let ourselves down. My view is that we need to approach people of influence and power. In this case we know where to go,” said Minister Hungwe.

He said they would sit down with President Mugabe to find how resources could be channelled to the project.

Minister Mumbengegwi expressed satisfaction with the effort that had been made by BAZ, ZBC and Transmedia to ensure the success of the project with limited resources.

“One cannot underestimate the importance of information and communication both locally, nationally and internationally. I must say as someone who watches television and listen to radio I am extremely excited at what happens behind the scene, the technology behind it, how our own young are behind it. I am proud that our nation is keeping up with global trends in the area of communication,” said Minister Mumbengegwi.

Minister Mumbengegwi said he remained hopeful that the project would be completed.

Minister Mushohwe hailed Cabinet Ministers who participated in the tour saying they now had a better understanding of the project that would enable them to enrich debate around it during Cabinet meetings.

“I want to express my profound gratitude to my colleagues, those who came will be the eyes and ears of those who did not manage to come,” he said.

Minister Undenge said his ministry would always provide support to the project through constant supply of energy.

“So much has been done and so much remains to be done. It is a project that underpins development,” he said.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey