New BAZ chief targets industry expansion

Source: New BAZ chief targets industry expansion – herald

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe has appointed Engineer Matthias Chakanyuka as its substantive chief executive officer.

Emmanuel Kafe-Herald Reporter

THE Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe has appointed Engineer Matthias Chakanyuka as its substantive chief executive officer, ending a period during which he served in an acting capacity and ushering in a new leadership chapter for the country’s broadcasting regulator.

Eng Chakanyuka, who has spent more than two decades at the authority, takes the helm with an ambitious agenda centred on expanding broadcasting services to underserved communities, licensing more community radio stations and preparing the sector for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking after assuming office, Eng Chakanyuka said his immediate priority was to ensure that every Zimbabwean, regardless of location, had access to broadcasting services.

“My mandate as the substantive chief executive officer is to ensure that broadcasting services are available in underserved areas and communities that currently do not receive broadcasting services,” he said.

“We are prioritising diversity in terms of access to broadcasting services. We are going to license more players, particularly in the radio sector, where we feel there is still room for improvement. We also want to ensure universal access to broadcasting services in areas that are either unserved or underserved.”

He said BAZ would expand access by licensing different categories of broadcasters, particularly community radio stations, in line with the Government’s devolution agenda.  “We intend to expand access by licensing different categories of broadcasting services. We will do that by licensing more community radio stations, which are closer to the people, thereby also aligning with Government policy on devolution,” said Eng Chakanyuka.

He said the authority also intended to modernise Zimbabwe’s broadcasting industry by encouraging the adoption of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

“We also want to ensure that the broadcasting industry embraces the new and emerging technologies that are coming on stream, particularly the use of AI,” he said.

“We are also going to contribute significantly to the national AI policy to ensure that the broadcasting sector’s needs are accommodated in that policy.”

Eng Chakanyuka said that while BAZ was committed to promoting diversity in broadcasting services, it would remain focused on protecting Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage and national identity.

“We want to ensure that Zimbabweans enjoy a diverse range of broadcasting services. However, while promoting diversity, we must also safeguard our cultural values and national identity because broadcasting plays a critical role in preserving and reflecting who we are as Zimbabweans,” he said.

Eng Chakanyuka joined BAZ as an engineer in June 2004 and steadily rose through the ranks to become technical director before being appointed acting chief executive officer.

Before joining the broadcasting regulator, he worked as a maintenance engineer at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), where he built his expertise in broadcasting engineering and transmission systems.

He has also played an active role in the work of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), participating in study groups and regional planning conferences on digital satellite and terrestrial broadcasting. His appointment comes as Zimbabwe continues implementing reforms aimed at strengthening the broadcasting sector following the country’s digital migration programme, which was initiated more than a decade ago to comply with international telecommunications obligations.