Harare (New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe government is supporting the transformation of the local media landscape through bold measures to preserve culture and nurture a positive country image, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
Zimbabwe transmits analogue terrestrial television on the VHF band with coverage in rural areas remaining low due to poor infrastructure, while radio is the main source of information.
“True to the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, the Montrose Television Studios in Bulawayo are being comprehensively modernised,”
President Mnangagwa said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to the second session of the 10th Parliament.
‘Similarly, community radio stations such as Khulumani FM and Central FM as well as Mbembesi and Ntepe Manama in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South respectively, together with the Madziva FM in Mashonaland Central province, are undergoing upgrade to increase the reach of broadcasting services.”
“Investments by more local and international players in our telecommunications industry are welcome towards better quality, as well as availability and affordability of digital and telecommunication services.”
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic is committed to enhancing the health delivery system and the government is availing resources for the acquisition of essential medicines and specialist medical equipment for all the country’s central, provincial and district hospitals.
In line with emerging technologies, the President said the introduction of telemedicine to facilitate virtual specialist consultations for citizens in remote parts of the country is being speeded up.
He said the government is implementing measures to ensure universal health coverage and lifting people from the burden of disease.
It has therefore put in place robust surveillance and response plans for threats posed by public health risks and communities are urged to continue exercising strict health and hygiene standards, he stated.
Turning to education, President Mnangagwa said the recent curriculum review for the primary and secondary sector was far-reaching, while ICT penetration is making Zimbabwean students globally competitive.
“Building on the success registered by our Innovation Hubs and Industrial Parks at universities, focus will now shift to deliberately support the commercialisation of products and services from these institutions for further growth of the local industry and the economy as a whole,” he said.
Women and micro, small and medium enterprises are increasingly being aided to enter local, regional as well as international markets while through the re-oriented Youth Service in Zimbabwe Program, the country’s youths are participating in community projects such as the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, teachers’ accommodation, clinics, roads, boreholes, dip tanks, bridges and houses for vulnerable households, President Mnangagwa said.
“Environmental management practices should be emphasised across all our provinces, districts and wards as we exercise good stewardship over our God-given motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said.
New Ziana
