• INFORMATION and Broadcasting Minister Joseph Katema (second left), Ndola District Commissioner Rebby Chanda, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation board member Cliven Katebe and corporate affairs manager Masuzyo Ndhlovu at the top of the Kaloko Hill in Ndola yesterday, during the launch of the ZNBC dual-cast television transmitter.

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

THE Government has invested K4.5 million in the installation of three Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television transmitters on the Copperbelt, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Joseph Katema has said.
Dr Katema said during the launch of the ZNBC dual-cast television transmitter at Kaloko Hill in Ndola yesterday that the installation of the transmitter was in line with the Government’s commitment to ensure public access to information, a fundamental pre-requisite for deepening democracy and development.
The minister said the Government invested in the three towers because the residents of the Copperbelt have had poor and unreliable ZNBC reception which was limiting their access to information.
“The facility will no doubt enhance ZNBC’s outreach and output of quality television service to the people,” Dr Katema said.
“This is a welcome development which is in line with the Government’s commitment to ensure public access to information, a fundamental pre-requisite for deepening our democracy and development.”
He said the transmitters were dual cast, meaning that they would first operate in analogue and then in digital, when the national broadcaster migrated from analogue to digital.
Dr Katema said the Government was undertaking various projects to enhance free flow and public access to information like accelerating the issuance of licences for the establishment of community and commercial radio stations.
It was also setting up provincial radio stations starting with North-Western and Southern provinces whose contracts for construction would be done this month.
The Government had also reintroduced local language newspapers, boosted rural radio transmission, and was sensitising people on the migration as well as signing a US$9 million contract with a contractor towards migration.
“These and other investments in the media sector represent the Government’s unwavering commitment to bringing information closer to the people for sustainable social and economic development,” Dr Katema said.
Earlier, ZNBC Board member Cliven Katebe said the quality of the service of ZNBC TV for Copperbelt viewers was poor because the transmitters that were servicing Copperbelt residents were set up 34 years ago and that the spare parts were hard to find.
Mr Katebe said when the high power transmitters were set up, they were operating at 20 kilowatts but had reduced to 10 kilowatts by 1999, which meant that the coverage had drastically reduced.