Zambia’s cabinet has allowed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services to re-advertise the previously cancelled $220 million digital migration tender for the country.

The tender was cancelled in September this year following public outcry that the contract was awarded to Star Software Technologies of China without following tender procedure.

Subsequently, government denied that Star Software Technologies, which was a preferred bidder, had won the contract.

Nevertheless, the outcry forced the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), the country’s procurement authority, to advise the Zambian government to cancel the $220 million tender.

But the country’s cabinet has now allowed the Ministry of Information to re-advertise the tender through the media, in a bid to revive the stalled migration process.

The Zambian government has already announced that the tender will be unbundled into four lots and give them to different companies.

The minister of Information and Broadcasting, Mwansa Kapeya, has said the national taskforce on digital migration is currently working on the technical aspects of the tender after which it will be submitted to the attorney general for advice.

Zambia had planned to beat this year’s December 31 deadline set by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) but is set to fail to do so owing to financial challenges, according to Kapeya.

The minister said however, that the Zambian government is committed to mobilising resources to ensure that the country’s successfully migration is in line with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deadline of June 2015.

“Government is committed to mobilising resources for Zambia’s successfully digital migration in line with International Telecommunication Union deadline of June 2015,” Kapeya said.

Kapeya said the Zambian government will also fund public media houses, including the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, to make them viable even as they migrate to digital.

Meanwhile, Kapeya added that his ministry has submitted the final draft digital migration policy to cabinet for approval as part of the country’s efforts to meet the 2015 deadline.

He said the policy awaiting approval was achieved as a result of wide consultations with stakeholders in ensuring a migration process that is driven by the people.