The Zambian government has initiated a project to establish new television stations across the country’s ten provinces.

The project, introduced following a successful migration to digital broadcasting in the capital Lusaka, will be used to encourage public participation in what authorities call 'national development'. It is specifically aimed at engaging rural areas.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Service Dr. Joseph Katema spoke at the launch of the project in Solwezi in North-Western province yesterday and said the provincial television stations will be implemented alongside the digital migration project.

The Southern African country said it will be able to meet the June 2015 digital migration deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Katema said the provincial television project was now becoming a reality and that two of the television stations are expected to be operational before the end of this year at a cost of $4 million.

"What the government has been saying has now become a reality. We will have a provincial television station here before the end of the year," Katema said.

Once established, the provincial television stations are planned to air 80% content in local languages and only 20% will be broadcast in English language.

The Zambian government believes the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation has a strong existing infrastructural base to enable the roll out of the Project.