ICT Minister Appoints STVA Board

 

 

The Honorable Minister of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), Dumisani Ndlangamandla has appointed members of the Board of Directors of the Swaziland Television Authority. This is in exercise of powers conferred on him by Section 5 of the Swaziland Television Act, 1983 read in conjunction with Section 6 of the Public Enterprise Act no.8 of 1989. The board was unveiled in a conference held at the Ministry of ICT’s conference room on the 11th of November 2015. “The appointment is for a period not exceeding three years starting from the 1st of October 2015”, said the Minister.

The appointed members are as follows:

  1. Ms Nozizwe Mulela - Chairperson

  2. Prince Sicunusa Dlamini - Member

  3. Prince Msindazwe Dlamini - Member

  4. Mr Sipho Thokozani Dlamini - Member

  5. Mr Mxolisi Fakudze - Member

  6. Mrs Turu Dube - Member

  7. Mrs Bongiwe Dlamini - Member

  8. Mr Bongani Austin Dlamini (STVA CEO) - Member

 

The Minister of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), Honorable Dumisani Ndlangamandla hosted the Ambassador of India, Honorable Pramod Kumar, on a tour of the Innovation Park at Phocweni on Thursday, January 29, 2015. The Innovation Park project is funded by the Indian through a US$20 million (E230m) loan from the Export and Import (Exim) Bank of India.  

The tour 30 minute tour was concluded with a comprehensive presentation on the facility by Shubham Tomar, an official from Angelique International Limited, the main contractor. Tomar mentioned that the building will consist of a data center, call center, offices and a training centre, among others. “The training centre will produce highly skilled people who will be internationally certified by IBM and others. The training centre will complement local training institutions,” he explained.

The Principal Secretary, Sikelela Dlamini, said Angelique International had sub contracted a local contractor, Kukhanya Construction and had also engaged a local project management company, which improves beneficiation to Swaziland. The project is expected to be completed in September 2015.

The tour was also attended by senoir managemnt in the Ministry, including the Undersecretary Bhekithemba Gama, the Project Manager Vumile Dlamini and the Director of Science, Research, Technology and Innovation, Dr Rejoice Maseko.

 

 

 

The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) continues to sensitize the public about the imminent digital migration process. This was evident recently when the Principal Secretary Mr. Sikelela Dlamini and his team, honoured an invitation from the University of Swaziland’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication headed by Dr. Maxwell Mthembu under the Faculty of Humanities. Dr. Mthembu stated that his Department was keen to know more about Digital Migration in order to equip students with new technologies and innovations through the Ministry of ICT.

Speaking to Faculty members and students, the Principal Secretary stated that the Digital Terrestrial Transmission expected to kick off in June this year would provide job opportunities for locals as there would be more television channels available to broadcast local content. He added that there was no need to panic because Swaziland was on track and had already started testing the set-top boxes. To prove that the Ministry was hard at work, Mr. Dlamini presented the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication with a brand new set top-box which Dr. Mthembu received on behalf of his Department.

Mr. Stan Motsa who is the Director of Communication in the Ministry also gave a brief about the origins of the Digital Migration process stating that in 2006 it was a collective agreement by all countries who were members of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to switch from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. Mr. Motsa added that the roll-out of the digital network country wide was already at an advance stage.

The Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology once again participated in an event aimed at improving the lives of the visually impaired people, the celebration of the international braille day. The event was held at the Swaziland National Library on the 7th of January 2015. Normally the day is celebrated on the 4th of January every year which is the birth date of the founder, Frenchman Louis Braille.

The celebration which was in the form of a press conference was organized by the Swaziland Association of the Visually Impaired Persons. The main concept behind the event was the presentation of new technological braille that was donated by the USA embassy and also to make people aware of what the organization is doing.

Braille is a method by which blind and visually impaired persons read and write. According to Bongani Makama, the chairperson of the Swaziland Association of the Visually Impaired persons, braille was introduced to Swaziland in 1959. The association prides itself in pupils who obtain higher marks despite the challenges they are facing. Mbasheni and Ecinisweni Primary schools are some of the schools that the association supports by giving special education to visually impaired pupils. There was a concern though about the shortage of teachers which saw members of the association volunteering to help.

Musa Makhanya, the association’s secretary thanked the Swaziland government which, through tertiary institutions, has introduced braille education thus making it easy for the visually impaired people to continue with their studies. “We thank everyone who has supported us up to this far and we urge all Swazis to support the initiative,” he said.

Makhanya highlighted that they feel included in the vision of 2022 of Swaziland being a first world country. “We are proud to announce that braille has become technological since the American embassy has given us computerized braille, which makes us a part of the king’s vision”, he continued. The Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications was also applauded for introducing a braille telephone directory. He further urged the Ministry of ICT to pass laws that do not clash with some of the equipment they use to ensure that they are always in use.

OffCanvas Menu