The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO will this year host the main World Press Freedom Day commemorations with the focus set to centre on the need to amplify press freedom dialogues in Zimbabwe and to raise awareness and generate public interest in media freedom, access to information, and freedom of expression.
The day which is commemorated annually on 3 May was set aside as a reminder to Governments to prioritise and honour their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the pursuit of a story.
According to a concept note prepared by the Ministry of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, this year’s commemorations will be held under the theme ‘Journalism under Surveillance’.
“World Press Freedom Day 2022 will reunite relevant stakeholders such as policymakers, journalists, media representatives, activists, cyber-security managers, and legal experts to explore these issues and develop concrete solutions to address the threats posed by increased surveillance to press freedom and privacy.”
The Ministry said the commemorations will be held in two days.
“The first day (2 May 2022) will be a regional workshop where papers on the state of media in the Southern region would be discussed.
“The convention will be addressed by various media stakeholders, including Government officials, editors, journalists, media owners, and media civil society organisations, among others.
The Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, will give the keynote address.”
The Ministry said on the second day there will be a training session at the National University of Science and Technology where 100 media students will be trained on media surveillance and ethics.
“This training will be conducted by Zimbabwean media veterans from the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) and Government.
Side exhibitions will be running concurrently with the training session.”
United Nations General Assembly
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26th session of UNESCO’s General Conference.
However, Zimbabwe’s media has developed in the last few years, particularly in the mainstream print, radio, and Television sector where the country licensed a number of media organisations.
These developments have provided opportunities for citizens and those in remote areas to enjoy their rights to access information, freedom of expression, and media freedom.
@NyembeziMu
