Namibia, Zim to launch 24-hour news channel

NAMIBIA and Zimbabwe plan to launch a 24-hour regional television news and current affairs satellite channel at Walvis Bay on November 1.

This follows a memorandum of understanding signed in February by the two countries “to share information”. The Namibian understands that the preparations for the new channel are well on course.NBC Director General Gerry Munyama 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.The first joint newspaper project between Zimbabwe and Namibia, The Southern Times, was launched at Victoria Falls late last month.At the occasion, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) and NBC said the planned satellite channel will counter the negative image of Africa 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.The Namibian understands that the preparations for the new channel are well on course.NBC Director General Gerry Munyama 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.The first joint newspaper project between Zimbabwe and Namibia, The Southern Times, was launched at Victoria Falls late last month.At the occasion, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) and NBC said the planned satellite channel will counter the negative image of Africa 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.