Namibia, Zimbabwe to launch 24-hour news channel

Namibia, Zimbabwe to launch 24-hour news channel

JONATHAN Moyo

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By Staff Reporter

OBSESSION with good publicity and propaganda by the Zimbabwean and Namibian governments is set to reach new heights with the launch of a regional 24-hour news channel to "counter Western propaganda" in November.

The move comes barely a month after the launch of the Southern Times newspaper, a brain child of Zimbabwean information minister Jonathan Moyo. The paper was launched in Victoria Falls following the signing of a memorandum of understanding on "information sharing" last February.

The new satelite TV channel will be launched at Walvis Bay on November 1, The Namibian newspaper reported.

Gerry Munyama, the director general of Namibian state television, NBC, confirmed plans for the project, but denied that the channel will be launched at the beginning of November.

He said a report on the viability of the project was yet to be finalised.

"We are waiting for the report from the technical committee. Only after that will we be able to proceed," Munyama said.

He said the report, coupled with recommendations, was expected to be tabled at the end of October.

At the launch of the Southern Times, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) and NBC said the planned satellite channel will counter the negative image of Africa allegedly portrayed by the Western media.

"It will tell the African story in its proper context, from an African perspective and by Africans to help counter the negative and degrading perspective currently being projected by the dominant Western and Euro-centric media," a statement by the two parties read.
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