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BY EVANS MURANGANWA

The Editor of The Star newspaper of South Africa Makhudu Sefara has implored African leaders have to respect their citizens first for them to earn respect.

Makhudu Sefara was speaking in Harare, Zimbabwe on Thursday on a discussion organised by MISA Media Institute of Southern Africa) which was on the experience of foreign, regional and local journalists.

“Most African leaders have been very vocal on their displeasure at the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s stance on them.

“But what the leaders should show us is their accountability on what is being levelled against them,” he said.

He said the media should not soften its quest for repealing unfavourable laws.

“There is no need to be apologetic when campaigning for the repealing of harsh laws,” added Makhudu.
Stefan Verwer, a journalist from Netherlands lamented poor media access in Africa.

“Media access in Africa is poor compare to other parts of the world,” noted Verwer.

Stefan said there is also the inherent need of professionalism in the sector particularly in Africa.
Caesar Zvayi who is the editor of The Herald Zimbabwe said the media should cover more on the widening gap between the poor and the rich.

“My opinion is that the African story is on why there is the big gap between the rich and the poor when the continent is endowed with so much resources,” argued Zvayi.

Zvayi said the last 13 years in Zimbabwe has been a very difficult time for the media in Zimbabwe.
“Things were not ‘normal’ for both the private and public media, it was highly polarised,” said Zvayi.

Dumisani Muleya, Editor of The Zimbabwe Independent said the Zimbabwean media should be courteous when dealing with the ZANU-PF led government on its move to create a better media environment.

“While we applaud the media minister for engaging the media we should sleep with one eye open as the government is capable of doing anything,” Muleya said.

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