Staff Writer
Employment creation has been a welcome and important by-product of the DStv brand’s presence in the Zimbabwean market, a situation mirrored across Africa in every country in which there is a DStv presence.
Although the DStv service is sourced externally, jobs have been created for Zimbabweans through the network of support services that need to be provided to the customer base across the country. A small core of these can be found within the MultiChoice Zimbabwe operation, but a great many more employment opportunities have been created among the network of technical and sales-related activities that bring DStv viewership to subscribers.
Among these are accredited service providers in two fields: agents and installers.
A DStv installer is a person or organisation given authority by MultiChoice to install and maintain the equipment required for receipt of the DStv broadcast, while a DStv agents facilitate installations as well as provide customer service to subscribers.
Scores of people are now involved in these fields, a key factor being the accreditation they received from MultiChoice to carry out the work they do. It is important for customers to confirm that the service providers they use are genuinely accredited, as there are bogus operators pretending to carry out this work but who usually fleece the customers and leave them stranded after parting with sums of money. Lists of accredited agents and installers can be sourced from MultiChoice Zimbabwe’s national telecall centre, customer care centres and online sites.
The network of installers is made up of people with technical know-how that translates into satisfactory installation of equipment and continuous receipt of the DStv service. Many of them have longstanding technical experience, but a number have come into the field from other walks of life and have become proficient in the work they carry out through education and training programmes.
Someone who falls into the latter category is Trymore Mumba, who was a security guard before moving into the field of installation.
Born in Banket and educated at Kuwadzana primary and secondary schools there, he worked for a number of years in the field of security for a firm based in Avondale, Harare.
“A man who was staying where I was staying was a technician and he taught me how to carry out DStv installations,” he said.
“I enjoyed this work and then realised that I had a knack for this work and with skills development and training I could successfully carry out installations.”
After working in the field for several years, first for an established company for eight years and then for himself, Trymore’s company has expanded from being an installer to also being a DStv agent, so the range of services includes equipment installation, mounting of television sets, TV sales and retailing of DStv accessories.
As with all other accredited installers and agents, his work is monitored by MultiChoice to ensure quality of practice and satisfactory results for customers. When technology is upgraded and new products brought in, installers receive training and information about this and are continuously geared to the ever-changing face of the pay-TV industry.
Trymore is not yet married but is able to support his family through his venture, proving the point that every job provides income for not just the earner but also a wider number of people in the community. He is thrilled with his success to date and looks forward to its continuation.
“DStv is a brand that everyone wants, and they need information, education and entertainment, so I feel we will continue to grow in coming years,” he said.
He is an avid fan of DStv, too, and is particularly keen on programmes on channels related to culture, religion and lifestyle, as well as documentaries.
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