Government will spend K5 billion towards the installation of 52 transmitters country-wide under the Rural Television Project.
And Government has said the Rural Television (TV) project which is in phase 4 and allocated to the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) would enable 13 stations to be earmarked for Digital Migration project.
Information Deputy Minister Angela Chifire disclosed in Parliament today that ZNBC would soon start the procurement processes and that the funds include the purchase of television transmitters under the Rural Tv project.
ZANIS reports that Ms Chifire said in accordance with the ZNBC planning provision of TV service, the Musonda falls which also comprises of the 13 TV relay stations had been planned for.
She said the average cost of each of the phase 4 rural TV sites is U$$25,000, an equivalent of about K125 million.
The Deputy Minister was responding to a question by Chipili PF MP Davies Mwila who wanted to know when ZNBC will extend its television coverage to the Musonda falls in Luapula Province and what caused the delay in introducing TV coverage to the area.
Ms Chifire, however, bemoaned lack of funds to expedite the installation process but reiterated Government’s commitment to providing quality television programming to the people in the nation.
And Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Deputy Minister Vera Tembo today told Parliament that Government approved a K6.050 billion budget for the Forestry Development Credit Facility (FDCF) Programmes between 2006 and 2007.
Ms Tembo said of the funds, K3.333 billion was released to her ministry adding that in 2008, the FDCF was discontinued after the establishment of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC)
Ms Tembo, however, said there were no successful applicants who accessed the funds from 2006 to 2008 because the Credit facility was transferred to the Commission.
She was responding to a question by Katanshi Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Yamfwa Mukanga who wanted to find out the total funding to the facility programme from 2006 to 2008 and the number of successful applicants who accessed the fund during the same period.
Commerce Deputy Minister Lwipa Puma told Parliament that the Commission has utilised K111.5 billion so far.
Dr Puma said his ministry was now working on easing modalities to the form which required people to fill in when accessing the funds from the Commission in adherence to President Rupiah Banda when he recently opened the Fifth Session of the Tenth National Assembly.
And Vice President George Kunda emphasised that the CEEC encompasses all areas of economic development in its quest to improve the livelihood of the Zambian people.
Mr Kunda said the Commission was a clear testimony of one of the long term measures by Government in alleviating poverty among the people.
[ ZANIS ]
It is very saddening for the gvt to put up these structures using tax payers money for political again, like znbc, times of zambia and daily mail.
in #1 above I meant “for political gain”
Not long ago we head how much is spent by the president on his tours around the world looking for investors. This was mentioned by Rev Shikapwasha can some one correct me were told that the amount spent on one trip is k5 Billion???
#3 you are right the mount spent is K5 Billion per trip and this was confirmed by Rev shiks.
Meaning if the president decided to drop one of the trips, we could have saved the 5billion needed to install all the 52 transmitters.Mismanagement of resources at its best!!! Africa mama Africa………..