If you wondered how Zimbabwe, whose economy is in a desperate state, can afford to set up a new international radio station, the answer is simple - it can’t. But President Robert Mugabe has found a donor who can - Iran.
Reports vary on the exact cost of the project - the BBC reports US$39.6 million and ABC Australia $48 million, rather than the $35 million reported by the Herald yesterday. But inflation is so high in Zimbabwe that it’s very difficult to perform an accurate conversion - the figure in local currency is quoted by the BBC as Z$8.9bn.
Iran is understood to have assisted in refurbishing the studio facilities in Harare that will be used by the station, and is now said to have agreed to do the same in Zimbabwe’s second city, Bulawayo. The Herald quotes the Iranian ambassador, Rasoul Momeni, as saying “We are going to strengthen our relationship, especially in technically upgrading radio and television stations.”
The transmitters near Gweru are widely reported to have been donated by the Chinese government, so apparently Zimbabwe is able to count on both countries for technical assistance. No frequency details have yet been published, and the website of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has been unavailable for some time. We would expect test transmissions to commence at least a few days prior to 18 April, the date by which Zimbabwe’s Information Minister says the station will be operational.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)