Provincial broadcasting stations coming - minister
GOVERNMENT will in the second and third phases of the digital migration project construct six provincial broadcasting stations in Zambia to help boost local content production and employment creation.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Kampamba Mulenga said the second and third digital migration phase would see the building of provincial broadcasting stations in Chipata, Kasama, Mongu, Mansa, Chinsali and Kabwe.
She expressed hope that the measure would help with the dissemination of quality information and dispel lies by disgruntled politicians.
Ms Kampamba, who is Government chief spokesperson told Parliament on Tuesday in a policy statement that K30 million has been released to dismantle arrears owed to the contractor tasked with the construction of Choma and Solwezi broadcasting stations.
The minister said the production of local content in broadcasting was key as it would enhance national unity, preserve cultural heritage and employment creation.
Ms Mulenga said the digital migration project was valued at U$273 million borrowed from the Export and Import Bank of China.
“I would like to inform this August House that in the second and third phases of the digital migration project, Government will construct provincial broadcasting stations in Chipata, Mongu, Chinsali, Kabwe, Kasama, and Mansa,” she said.
Ms Mulenga said service providers who would fail to observe the 75 percent threshold of broadcasting local content would be fined and the funds realised would be used to promote local content production.
She expressed happiness that Minister of Finance Felix Mutati allocated over K125 million to her ministry in the 2018 budget compared to K86 million in 2017 representing a 45.3 percent increment and stated that this was testimony of Government’s zeal to boost the ministry.
Ms Mulenga urged Members of Parliament to support the revised television levy from K3 to K5 as it would improve the revenue base of ZNBC and that quarterly reports on funds raised would be communicated to members of the public.