The Minister of Communications, Science and Technology says government has embarked on a project to expand Lesotho Television coverage to 85 percent.

Mr. Mothetjoa Metsing said this on Thursday when officially closing a two week television production techniques workshop in Maseru. The workshop, which started on October 05, was attended by Lesotho Television journalists and information officers and camera persons from other ministries.

Mr. Metsing said it is in the light of this impending coverage expansion that the ministry recognises the need for capacity-building and training of staff, not only of LTV, but also information officers from other ministries, who complement LTV in its mandate of dissemination of information.

He said, since more Basotho will be having access to the national television, it is important that narrowing of the information and digital divide between rural and urban communities be accompanied by staff, who will demonstrate high levels of professionalism by offering quality content.

In an interview, the Director of Broadcasting, Mr. Lebohang Moqasa, said the aim of the workshop was to raise standards and encourage uniformity in TV productions.

Mr. Moqasa said TV staff has in the past been relying on on-the-job training, which has over time proved to be inadequate and resulted in sub-standard qualities of production.

He said the major challenge facing television in Lesotho is raising its standard to international level, especially at this time when LTV is preparing to graduate from terrestrial to satellite broadcasting. This exercise, he said, is expected to be completed in less than one year.

Participants were drawn from, among others, the Institute of Extra Mural Studies, Ministry of Forestry and the National Security Service.

Source: LENA 18/10/2007