May 2015

June 2015

viewing a transmission site in Hwange revealed that the country was
facing challenges in acquiring digital broadcasting monitoring equipment
as an unnamed country in the European Union had refused to sell the
equipment to Zimbabwe. He said the country had since sought an
alternative.
He also announced the importation of equipment worth US$3million for
the process through Huawei International, who he said have targeted
mid-2016 for the completion of the digital migration process for the
country.
Charamba’s statement on the set date for completion presented
inconsistencies in the actual date that Zimbabwe is expected to have fully
migrated to digital television broadcasting. Furthermore, the lack of
transparency on which country exactly was unwilling to supply the
monitoring equipment was of concern.
On 24 May 2015, Broadcasting signal carrier, Transmedia, receives digital
equipment which includes antenna systems and transmitters to be
installed at six new transmission sites. Transmedia Chief Executive
officer, Florence Sigudu notes that the digitisation process began in 2011,
and the country would meet the ITU requirement of non-interference
with other country’s transmission signals by June 17.
There is still no clear detail on where the new sites will be situated
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on 9 June 2015 reported that
engineers were working ‘flat out’ to ensure that the country’s digitisation
becomes a reality. This followed the beginning of the installation of the
satellite which will carry signal to transmitters across the country. BAZ
technical Manager Mathias Chakanyuka said 48 transmitters have been
erected across the country.

URGENT CHALLENGES' to digital migration;
 Lack of public awareness on the process itself and no public digital migration plan
document
 Lack of consistency in the policy statements relating to the digitisation process
 Lack of clarity on the timelines related to the process and outline on implications of the
process on Zimbabweans beyond 17 June, 2015
 Lack of public engagement of stakeholders who include content producers, broadcasters
telecommunications players and civil society

Select target paragraph3