The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
JOURNALISTS have been urged to remain professional as the country moves towards general elections to be held this year.
Speaking to journalists from various newsrooms and content creators in Bulawayo on Friday, Zimbabwe Media Commission Chairperson Professor Ruby Magosvongwe said journalists will be under spotlight when covering the elections, whose date is yet to be announced, hence the need to be professional to ensure the integrity of the profession.
She added that journalist had a role to play to ensure that the country attains Vision 2030, by covering projects under the National Development Strategy 1 and devolution.
“Vision 2030 acknowledges the critical role of the media as it plays a catalytic role in rallying our people around national priorities and objectives. It is also within this context that we need to discuss the role of media in the context of devolution,” she said.
National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1)’
Turning to media regulation, Professor Magosvongwe said co-regulation was the way to go, after it was agreed upon by the government and media stakeholders after numerous engagements.
“It is an agreed position by all stakeholders on the concept of co-regulation. This position was further buttressed by the discussions at a Kadoma workshop held in August 2022. It is rather the form and manner in which co-regulation has to manifest it self.
Using Sections 249 (1) (d) and 321 (2) of the Constitution, proponents of co-regulation accept the need to have professional body or bodies to deal with professional issues. They also accept the idea of a constitutional authority somewhat removed from the central state in the form of the ZMC. But they point out that the ZMC alone cannot regulate this media comprehensively and across the country. There is need for smaller, decentralized refineries in the form of constitutions and codes of conduct of media associations subject to approval by the ZMC.
The enforcement of those constitutions and codes of conduct would be left to the associations and only appeals in cases of disagreement and dispute at that level would be brought to the Commission.”
She added that the media should use all national languages to ensure that everyone, including minority communities were well informed on what was happening in the country.
ZMC executive secretary Mr Godwin Phiri said the interface was meant to engage with editors and journalists in Bulawayo, with an aim to come up with ideas to build a sustainable media industry.
“The commission wants to reach out so that stakeholders understand what we do and what we are all about. The first engagement was in Harare two weeks ago. We believe that everyone has an idea on how we can develop a sustainable media industry in the country,” he said.
