P52 million for Mass Media Complex

Government will spend P52.6 million to transform Mass Media complex into a production hub for local television and film production.

Addressing the nation on Tuesday President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi revealed that a feasibility study on the utilisation of the media complex by local contractors is ongoing and is being conducted by a citizen- owned company at a cost of approximately P800 000.

Completion of the study is expected in October this year. President Masisi said government is committed to the development of the local arts, music, literature, performance and theatre, film, dance and crafts. “Through a creative art strategy we will strive to commercialise the creative industry and include more Batswana in the lucrative wildlife and tourism filming and photography industry”.

There were complaints recently about a direct appointment of a P470 million tender by Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board ( PPADB) to American Media Company, Steve Harvey Global. The company is expected to provide a radio and television production services at Department of Broadcasting Services ( DBES). President Masisi highlighted that digitisation remains one of the main drivers of the nation’s economy. By the end of 2021/ 22 financial year, a minimum of 25 services are expected to be online.

“Applications for bursaries for tertiary education, Youth Development Fund, Land Boards and company registration, are already online. The Implementation of e- learning and e- health services are also progressing well”. Government has also adopted a Cluster Model approach to drive Value Chain Development, and as such, relevant Ministries are at various stages of developing sector clusters. “With the view to accelerate Public Sector Reforms, a Public Sector Change Management Framework ( CMF) is being rolled out across the Public Service”.