By Nephtali Kalumbi

Mangochi, October 12, Mana. China’s Star Times Group has resumed distribution and installation of television satellite dishes and decoders to public places and rural households in Mangochi, to provide access to local and international channels via satellite TV.

The initiative which is called Malawi-China Satellite Television Connection Project saw thousands of communities in Mangochi in 2018 receiving free solar-powered digital TV sets with decoders as well as projectors.

Speaking on Friday during an assessment exercise of communities to receive the sets, Starsat Sales Manager for Malawi, Precious Banda said they will resume installing dishes and decoders in 10 villages across Mangochi, as well as in public hospitals and schools to provide rural communities with easy access to information through starSat Satellite TV.

“As a Star Times Group, we are happy to resume the installation and distribution of satellite dishes as well as decoders to community members and public institutions in Mangochi.

‘‘Through the project, we believe that we will help to promote access to information to 20 households in 10 villages in Mangochi,” he said.

Banda added that once the installation of the gadgets is done, beneficiaries will be provided with a two months’ free subscription and after the grace period expires, they will start paying for the service.

In his remarks, Group Village head Makwinja of Traditional Authority, Chowe welcomed the development and expressed gratitude saying the project will help community members to watch TV programmes.

"Am delighted that the project has finally come back, I hope that this time around my subjects will be part of the beneficiaries.  In the past, we were admiring other villages that benefited from the initiative,” said Makwinja.

Initially, the project was launched in August 2018 as part of China-Africa Cooperation initiative to provide satellite TV reception to 10, 000 African villages.