ZimStat1: Why It Is A Priority? - Nick Mangwana
Zimbabwe’s first satellite is scheduled to be launched on Monday 7 November 2022 after missing the October and today (6 November 2022) schedules.
Government critics say the satellite is not a priority for a country that is failing to provide basic health care.
In a post seen by Pindula News, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana, seems to be responding to critics. He said:
WHY A SATELLITE IS A PRIORITY: BENEFITS:
Enhances Mineral Mapping.
Informs Infrastructure Management and Mapping.
Weather forecasts
Disaster Monitoring
Water Quality Management
Soil Fertility Management
Drought Predictions
Landslides prediction
Commenting on the case previously, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the successful launch of the satellite will result in the country saving millions of foreign currency.
He said the money is currently being paid to foreign companies for foreign satellite services.
Murwira said at the moment, MultiChoice, the owner of DSTV, is getting more than US$18 million yearly in subscriptions from Zimbabweans while the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is paying US$1.2 million annually to a French company for radio and television satellite signals.
Murwira said $25 million was secured for the initiative.
