Zimbabwe, together with regional partners, is taking advantage of the digital migration process to help establish a TV station for the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Christopher Mushohwe, the Zimbabwe Minister for Media, Information and Broadcasting Services told ITWeb Africa this week that the project was meant to spearhead integration and better cultural understanding across the region.

According to Mushohwe, the introduction of a regional TV station has been discussed and agreed on by most of the regional countries involved.

He could not disclose the time frame for launch of the channel and said only that it would be soon.

Mushohwe added that he had recently discussed the proposal with his Lesotho counterpart who was upbeat about the proposal. "As a region we must tell our own stories and the television station is pivotal in cultural integration, among other things," he said. "The setting up of a regional TV is in line with the SADC ethos and values."

Plans are also at an advanced stage to launch seamless railway lines and road networks to consolidate efforts towards synthesis among SADC member states, he said adding, "a TV station will present members with great opportunity to tell their own stories."

In March 2015 Zimbabwe received approximately US$125 million for digitisation in accordance with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) June 2015 deadline.

As was the case with many SADC members, Zimbabwe missed the deadline to migrate from analogue to digital.

Mushohwe has been optimistic that the Southern African country would successful migrate by the end of the first quarter of 2016.

It is envisaged that on completion of the digitisation process, Zimbabwe will have 12 TV stations and the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation TV will have six high definition channels. Six other HD channels will be reserved for independent producers.

There will be 48 transmitter sites countrywide to ensure national coverage.