The Broadcasters Convention – Southern Africa 2025 officially commenced yesterday, 28th October 2025, at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe, in the majestic setting of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with a dynamic focus on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies in the region’s media landscape.
Convened by Broadcast Media Africa (BMA) in partnership with the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA), and proudly hosted by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), the first day, themed “Content, Connectivity, Collaboration,” featured high-level policy discussions and practical sessions designed to navigate the opportunities and challenges of the AI era.
The Convention was officially opened by ZBC Chief Executive Officer Sugar Chagonda, who expressed excitement over Zimbabwe’s role as host, saying, “We are thrilled to host SABA here in collaboration with our Ministry of Information. It’s a grand opportunity for Zimbabwe and a convergence of great minds in broadcasting.”
He said the summit is a prime opportunity for knowledge sharing and forging strategic partnerships.
A high-impact panel followed, discussing the topic, “The AI Bottom Line: Navigating Opportunities, Threats, and New Revenue Models,” moderated by Benjamin Pius, CEO of Broadcast Media Africa. Panellists, including Tabitha Mutemi (Association of Professional Broadcasters, Kenya) and Rufaro Zaranyika (Transmedia Corporation, Zimbabwe), debated practical steps for African media houses to leverage AI for intelligent audience analytics, automated production, and new digital revenue streams.
The critical subject of ethical AI implementation was addressed in the panel session, “Trust in the Machine: Navigating the Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Maze of AI in Broadcasting.” Moderated by Noto Modungwa of Sentech, the session featured insights from regulators and news leaders, including Matthias Chakanyuka (Broadcasting Authority Zimbabwe) and Mabatho Lithebe (Lesotho National Broadcasting Services), who discussed how to maintain editorial quality and public trust as AI tools become central to news production.
The afternoon focused on future-proofing content strategy and connectivity in the region. Itumeleng Segaloe, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Sentech, presented on “Strategising With AI The Right Way: Content and Connectivity For Africa Media.” A comprehensive panel session complemented this, titled “The New Content Strategy: Originality, New Audiences, and Innovative Formats?” featuring Berard Dupres (Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation) and Davies Kabuswe (Sun Broadcasting Holdings), which focused on creating compelling, regionally relevant content that thrives across both streaming and traditional platforms.
Day Two promises further in-depth discussions on technical innovations, regional collaboration, and investment opportunities essential for building a future-ready media ecosystem across Southern Africa.
To view the event highlights, click the link below.
