TopStar Communications has signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Ministry of Information and Media for the addition to the platform of Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) as the fifth Free To Air (FTA) channel on the platform.
Speaking during the signing of the SLA in Lusaka today, Information and Media Permanent Secretary Kennedy Kalunga congratulated TopStar and ZANIS on this collaboration and cooperation through this agreement by taking information closer to the people countrywide.
“This is a historic occasion in the transmission of ZANIS as Government’s foremost carrier of information to the people as evidenced by the addition of the television channel to the department’s list of information services,” Mr. Kalunga said .
“The signing of the agreement that we have just done is, therefore a clear indication of Government’s commitment to ensure equal access to information for all citizens regardless of where they live”.
TopStar Chief Executive Officer John Zhuang said the signal carrier has fulfilled its mandate according to the Digital Migration Policy which stipulates that the signal distributor is expected to carry five free to air (FTA) channels on its platform. The other FTA channels are ZNBC TV1, TV4, Parliament TV and France24.
“Since ZANIS is on countrywide coverage, it means that even households outside the line of rail and the provincial headquarters are be able to access the channel without an active subscription,” Mr Zhuang said.
“ZANIS is now in your homes and the local communities, both on the decoder with with the antenna and the decoder with the dish, to ensure that no one is left behind on current affairs, education and entertainment”.
ZANIS Director Loyce Saili said the signing of this agreement is the beginning of an exciting journey as the department will be able to provide news from over 100 districts with a focus on the Zambian people, by giving them chance to access information and comment on national issues and development.
