1000 African Journalists to Receive Training in China.

The Zimbabwe Minister for Media, Information and Broadcasting Mr. Christopher Chindoti Mushohwe said efforts that strengthen African Media to fight against negative  media coverage of African countries and China by Western countries should be applauded. Establishment of strong indigenous media in African countries will reduce dependence  of western global media which is negative to African countries and China, he said.

Third Forum on China – Africa Media Cooperation taking place in Beijing Tuesday, 21 June, 2016. Inset Right: China’s Deputy Minister responsible for Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television Mr Tong Gang

From Zamaradi Kawawa in Beijing, Tanzania Information Services (MAELEZO).

The Chinese Government has set aside a total of  USD 10 billion for China-Africa co-operation in the areas of human resources development, media exchange programs , health and food security for three years.

The Deputy Minister responsible for Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television in China, Mr Tong Gang  has told the Third Forum on China – Africa Media Cooperation  taking place in Beijing this Tuesday, 21 June, 2016, that his government would like to promote China-Africa media cooperation and a total of 1,000 journalists from African countries would be trained at  newly established media centres in China.

A total of 350 participants including Government Ministers, Vice Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Chief Executive Officer of the AU Broadcasting, Chief Executive Officers  of Radio and Television stations from 45 African Countries and China  have attended the meeting.

Mr Tong Gang told the conference that China is ready to support African Countries in strengthening broadcasting digitalization, Training of media personnel, improvement of Television and Radio program production  and quality of film production.

African countries and China have in the meantime agreed to strengthen Africa – China Media Cooperation to improve media quality through experience sharing of implementation of media policies, capacity building programs for journalists, digitalization and development of new media.

Sharing  Tanzanian experience in digital migration at the Third Forum on China – Africa Media Cooperation in Beijing today, Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Mrs Annastazia Wambura said Tanzania is now commemorating one year of migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT). She said although the process was challenging it was accomplished due to sound policies, regulatory framework and Government Commitment.

Tanzania Delegation to China-Africa Media Co-operation Conference in Beijing from Left: Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Entertainmanet and Sports, Anastazia James Wambura, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Professor Elisante Ole Gabriel, Director General of the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, (TBC), Dr. Ayoub Rioba, and Acting Director of the Tanzania Information Services, Zamaradi Kawawa. (PHOTOS, ANNA NKINDA-MAELEZO)

She told the forum that as of now, close to two million Tanzanians are enjoying quality television programmes from locally and foreign produced content enriching the people’s choice and diversity.

Mrs Wambura pointed out a digital migration road map, political will, consultation with stakeholders, a communication strategy , public private partnership (PPP) in the area of cost sharing and  consumer consideration in the purchase of affordable services and equipment contributing to the smooth analogue to digital migration in broadcasting ahead of ITU deadline of 17th June, 2015.

She said the achievement was contributed largely by the Public Private Partnership between Star  Communication Network Technology (Star Times ) from China which in May 2009 formed a joint venture company – Star Media (Tanzania)  Limited  with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), the Country’s public broadcaster.

However,  the Zimbabwe Minister for Media, Information and Broadcasting Mr. Christopher Chindoti Mushohwe said efforts that strengthen African Media to fight against negative  media coverage of African countries and China by Western countries should be applauded.

“The establishment of strong indigenous media in African countries will reduce dependence  of western global media which is negative to African countries and China. Zimbabwe is ready to cooperate with China in fighting western media negative coverage”, he said.

The Press Minister from Chad Mr Ali Ali Fei said African countries  are in the transition period from analogue to digital broadcasting hence need China support in the installation of infrastructure for the digitalization process of broadcasting .
” We are in a critical stage of revolution. All African countries have to go through digitalization. New economy is built by digitalization” he said.

Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Mr Erastus Mwencha said African Countries need to safeguard their culture since they are now facing globalization culture which threatens to impose a new era of digital colonization.