Kamza Mayor Strengthens Communications Department with Modern Audio-Video Equipment Tender

In a move reminiscent of strategies employed by Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama, Kamza Municipality is bolstering its propaganda capabilities through significant investments in media equipment, despite already employing a dedicated staff for communications and public relations.

Recent documents obtained by Vox News reveal that Kamza Municipality has initiated a small-value procurement procedure for “supply and installation of audio-video equipment.” The tender includes purchases of sophisticated broadcasting hardware: three PTZ cameras with a dedicated controller, a 12-channel audio mixer, professional headphones, five podcast microphones with mounting arms, broadcast cards, three professional video tripods with movable heads, and studio lighting equipment including four LED lights and six square softboxes.

The scale and professional quality of the requested equipment suggest Mayor Rakip Suli is preparing to launch a podcast or similar media operation, following a pattern increasingly common among Albanian government officials who prioritize carefully crafted public images over direct engagement with constituents.

This procurement raises questions about resource allocation in a municipality where infrastructure development, educational facilities, healthcare services, and other essential public works might benefit from these funds. Critics argue that such investments primarily serve to create a buffer between officials and the public, replacing authentic dialogue with curated messaging.

The trend of establishing elaborate media operations within government institutions has become widespread across Albania. These operations often produce polished content including photographs, videos, and even pre-packaged news segments distributed through social networks and sometimes broadcast on television stations. This approach allows officials to control their public narrative while limiting opportunities for direct questioning or accountability.

Political communication experts note that this strategy shifts the focus from substantive policy achievements to image management. Mayor Suli appears more concerned with how he presents himself during ceremonial visits to construction sites rather than concentrating on effective project planning and implementation.

The expansion of government propaganda networks has drawn criticism from transparency advocates who argue that these operations sometimes cross ethical lines by creating misleading or manipulated images of public works and government achievements. The practice diverts both financial resources and attention from addressing citizens’ actual needs.

Critics suggest that instead of investing in broadcast equipment, Mayor Suli should focus on Kamza’s pressing infrastructure needs, such as developing a ring road, creating genuine public squares, or establishing green spaces. They emphasize that meaningful governance requires direct interaction with residents through in-person meetings, public forums, and genuine dialogue rather than one-way communication channels.

This development in Kamza follows a pattern established in Tirana, where Mayor Veliaj has built a sophisticated media operation that tightly controls his public image and messaging. Prime Minister Rama, himself a former mayor of Tirana, similarly employs extensive media resources to shape public perception of his administration.

The practice raises broader questions about the evolving relationship between Albanian officials and citizens, and whether growing investments in government media operations enhance transparency or merely create illusions of accessibility while actually distancing elected officials from the people they serve.

As Albanian municipalities face significant challenges related to infrastructure, public services, and economic development, the allocation of resources to media equipment rather than direct service improvements may signal concerning priorities among local government leaders.