Connecting Nimroz Province: Upgraded Zaranj Media Station means more informed residents

Photo By Master Sgt. Bryan Peterson | An Afghan checks televised programming in the newly-updated television control room, Oct. 12, at the Zaranj Media Station in Zaranj District, Nimroz province, Afghanistan. Through the assistance of Regional Command Southwest’s Civil Affairs, recent upgrades to the Zaranj Media Station now allows more than 165,000 Nimroz residents to receive national broadcasts from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The media station received more than $400,000 worth of equipment that replaced outdated, Soviet-era equipment, which only had the capability to broadcast just outside the Nimroz capital.  

ZARANJ, AFGHANISTAN

10.17.2013

Story by Sgt. Bryan Peterson 

Regional Command Southwest

The Nimroz Provincial Government recently completed renovations to the Zaranj Media Center that will allow the station to air national broadcasts from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to more than 165,000 Nimroz residents.

The renovations were the result of months of planning between Nimroz Provincial Governor Mohammad Sarwar Sabat and Maj. Scott Morrison, the Regional Command (Southwest) Civil Affairs director. Sabat and Morrison were working to improve economic and government development in the province and identified the media station as a high-priority project.

The upgraded facility expands the government’s capability to relay public messages. The media center, which broadcasts both television and radio, can air their station as far as Delaram, which borders Farah Province to the north and Helmand Province to the east. This is a vast improvement as the station only was able to reach Zaranj residents only, in the past.

The media station was fitted with new radio equipment, cameras, televisions and antennas. The radio equipment allows radio show hosts to have on-air conversations with residents and the cameras will allow reporters to gather news stories with current technology. The upgrades, which totaled $438,000, were the first modifications to the station since the 1980s.

Morrison expressed the need for a functionally operating media station to inform Nimroz residents about the national government’s efforts to create peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He used an example of an Afghan National Army humanitarian service operation in Nimroz two months ago when Zaranj experienced a severe wind storm that damaged local infrastructure and crops. He said if Nimroz had an operating media center, they could have produced a media report on the ANA’s efforts to provide assistance, showing the people what the government was doing to help its citizens.

“Having the ANA come out to Zaranj to conduct a humanitarian operation is big on many levels,” said Morrison, a Charlotte, N.C., native. “For one, there are no ANA based in that part of the province. So, the fact they made it out to that area is a big deal. Also, for them to come with the purpose of providing aid, it was very welcome by the people. Having reporters report on those things will bring positive gains to the province.”

Morrison said the television station will also help broadcast weather reports so residents can prepare for the worst, if necessary.

The upgrades come at a pivotal time as the country prepares for presidential elections, which begin in April. Currently, there are 15 candidates vying for the presidential position and Morrison credits the media station for playing a big part in the electoral process.

“Currently, voter registration is taking place across Afghanistan, to include Nimroz, which has had a great turnout for new voter registrants,” said Morrison. “Interestingly, more than 30 percent of those new registrants are women. So that right there is a good news story, but it’s a news story that wouldn’t necessarily have been able to get out without the new television and radio station. That’s just one example of how the new station in Zaranj can promote something that clearly benefits the people.”

The Zaranj media station chief, Asadullah Baloch, said his station is already making a difference in Nimroz. He said the national news stories Nimroz residents would not normally see or hear are now being rebroadcasted. He said the more information Nimroz residents have about national issues, the more confidence they will have in the abilities of the local and national governments.

“We now have people calling into the radio station,” said Baloch. “People are now more aware of what’s going on. If there is a complaint, people call in to our radio station. If there is a story idea, people call in. It’s been very successful so far. This is another way for the government here to hear what the people’s needs are.”
Baloch believes the new capability will eventually reach to all Nimroz residents, but “it will take time.” He said residents far from Zaranj will soon take notice of the media center and tune in more as time goes on.

“We see nothing but great things in the future,” added Baloch.
Sabat has worked on many initiatives in the province, such as water security and protecting its people from the enemies of Afghanistan, but he said the biggest issue was to connect his people to the rest of the country. He knows “media is the best way” to spread GIRoA’s positive messages.

“We are far away from Kabul and we knew communication was a problem,” said Sabat. “We wanted to shorten the distance between the government and the people. The people and the government are the same. There is no difference. With this new media station we can unite, help each other out and show the people the enemies of Afghanistan are not welcome.”

Morrison has worked with the Nimroz government since February, making five trips to Zaranj. During this time, he witnessed “significant progress”, considering the capital’s isolated location in southwestern Afghanistan, just two kilometers from the Iranian border.

“The Nimroz government is self-sustaining,” said Morrison. “Being so far away from Kabul, they make decisions on their own that works for them. The media station is just another example of their progress.”

• Date Taken: 10.17.2013
• Date Posted: 10.17.2013 09:40
• Story ID: 115275
• Location: ZARANJ, AF
• Hometown: CHARLOTTE, NC, US