INFORMATION minister Chris Mushohwe has disclosed that government was doubtful it would meet the digitisation deadline by April this year due to unavailability of resources.
Addressing stakeholders on digital migration in Masvingo last Thursday, Mushohwe said: “Complete migration from analogue to digital will be effected by end of the first quarter of this year subject to availability of resources.
“By end of April this year, we should have switched over to digital broadcasting, but for that to happen, there is need for the government to stick to the payment dates with the contractor. We are racing against time . . . The Finance ministry is doing everything possible to make sure we get resources. We are happy with the achievement, we have made so far albeit under difficult conditions including resource constraints.”
But, TransMedia chief engineer Mathius Chakanyuka in his presentation at the same meeting said complete migration to digital broadcasting was only feasible by year-end as there was a lot to be done.
“We are likely to miss the deadline of the first quarter of the year again as we have few transmitters out of the needed 48. We expect to switch on to digital broadcasting by December this year,” Chakanyuka said.
Most Sadc countries, including Zimbabwe, missed the international digitisation deadline which lapsed in June last year.
By Tatenda Chitagu https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/02/15/digitisation-deadline-in-doubt/
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