Residents of Impalila Island will soon have access to clear radio services, as the nbc’s Director General, Stanley Similo, announced plans to install transmitters in the coming months. Similo made the announcement during a site visit to the island over the weekend.
"I’m pleased to share that, thanks to MTC building this tower, we’ve already started discussions. Very soon, we will install our transmitters, allowing Nwanyi FM to be heard here. Our main priority is that everyone has access to radio. It’s vital for communication, whether it’s local leadership addressing issues, or the government sharing important policies and developmental updates. We’re excited about this development," Similo said.
He emphasized that the island's residents deserve the same level of development and rights as the rest of the country.
Village headwoman, Kasimbi Matengu, welcomed Similo and his team, noting that the progress is much-needed after the communication struggles villagers face daily.
"We’ve had to tie radios to trees just to try and get a signal, and even then, we can only listen in the evenings. During the afternoons, we get no reception at all," Matengu shared.
The nbc’s Chief of Technology, Tuuliki Shipanga, assured residents that the service will be available within two months.
"We’re currently going through the procurement process, and we expect that the radio services will be available to you within the next two months or even sooner," Shipanga stated.
Brian Kalonda, the chairperson of the island’s village development committee, expressed gratitude but maintained cautious optimism.
"We are very grateful, but we won’t celebrate fully until we see the actual installation. We’ve purchased radios and TVs over the years, but we haven’t been able to use them. Once the installation is complete, we’ll show our thanks with joy and dancing," Kalonda said.
Kalonda also urged the nbc team to consider nearby villages like Kasika and Mbalasinte, which may not fully benefit from the tower on Impalila Island.
"While this tower will improve reception here, other areas may still struggle. We need to review where other towers are located to ensure broader coverage for the surrounding communities," he advised.