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G0FTD > NEWS 15.04.07 12:26l 39 Lines 1694 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 040085104PZT
Read: GUEST
Subj: China <> Iran <> Zimbabwe
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0MRW<DB0SON<DB0ERF<DB0FBB<DB0IUZ<DB0OVN<DB0GOS<ON0AR<
GB7SYP<GB7PZT
Sent: 070415/0916Z @:GB7PZT.#24.GBR.EU [Kidderminster] #:8504 XSERV410h
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:16:06 +0000
From: g0ftd@gb7pzt.#24.gbr.eu (Andy)
To: news@eu
Subject: China <> Iran <> Zimbabwe
Iran is partly funding new Zimbabwe radio station.
If you wondered how Zimbabwe, whose economy is in a desperate state,
can afford to set up a new international radio station, the answer
is simple - it can't. But President Robert Mugabe has found a donor
who can - Iran. Reports vary on the exact cost of the project
- the BBC reports US$39.6 million and ABC Australia $48 million,
rather than the $35 million reported by the Herald yesterday. But
inflation is so high in Zimbabwe that it's very difficult to perform
an accurate conversion - the figure in local currency is quoted by
the BBC as Z$8.9bn.
Iran is understood to have assisted in refurbishing the studio
facilities in Harare that will be used by the station, and is now
said to have agreed to do the same in Zimbabwe's second city,
Bulawayo. The Herald quotes the Iranian ambassador, Rasoul Momeni,
as saying "We are going to strengthen our relationship, especially
in technically upgrading radio and television stations".
The transmitters near Gweru are widely reported to have been donated
by the Chinese government, so apparently Zimbabwe is able to count
on both countries for technical assistance. No frequency details
have yet been published, and the website of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation has been unavailable for some time. We would expect test
transmissions to commence at least a few days prior to 18 April, the
date by which Zimbabwe's Information Minister says the station will
be operational.
[Source:Radio Netherlands Media Network weblog.]
G0FTD @ GB7PZT
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