By Beaven Dhliwayo.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Government said the communication sector should embrace a new media ethos that focuses on supporting the country’s economic development efforts, as it accelerates its support for a vibrant and professional media for Zimbabwe.
The media have notably been constrained in their watchdog role by harsh economic conditions and general lack of professional skills and deontological standards, but sometimes also by threats from politicians or other wealthy, well connected individuals under investigation.
Unfortunately brown envelopes circulate in the media and journalists or media houses are instrumentalised and paid to place so-called “news” items.
In an interview with this reporter, Acting Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Simon Khaya Moyo reminded the media that they have a role to play in shaping the destiny of the country.
He said civic media organizations should similarly remove their old jackets and don new ones as change agents for fostering peace, national unity and economic development.
Minister Moyo said in any society, the media play an integral role of informing, educating and entertaining, without which citizens cannot participate meaningfully in the development processes taking place in their respective countries.
“The hallmark of thriving democracies is the presence of an informed citizenry which participates in the national discourse through free expression.
“The media, a free media for that matter, is key element to democracy and development,” he said.
He said the government and other cooperating partners are availing resources towards equipping the sector players with skills that should enable them to discharge their mandate as purveyors of information that is factual, balanced and truthful for positive contribution to public discourse and economic growth in the country.
Moyo also said currently Government, through the ministry is spearheading the digital broadcasting migration programme, which, slowly but surely on account of limited resources, is gaining traction.
“Very soon we shall be witnessing real positive change in breaking ZBC monopoly over our airwaves as new television players on board. And even before then, as soon as Government acquires set-top boxes, we should begin to roll out digital services in areas that have proximity to digitalized transmitter sites.”
He also said whilst Zimbabwe boasts of a vibrant print media, where a number of newspapers are registered to operate, the internet penetration rate continues to grow at a steady pace.
“The country’s mobile communication reach is phenomenal while Government continues to mobilize resources to invest in the growth of the media and information sector. This is a sector that offers great possibilities for both local and foreign investment,” he said.
However, he pointed out that most mainstream media organizations are struggling to sustain operations due to a myriad of factors not least of which is the global phenomenon of a considerable decline in newspaper revenue as a result of enhanced access to the internet platforms for news, information and entertainment.
He added that at policy level, the Ministry is in the process of aligning the two pieces of legislation that fall within its purview that is the Access of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) with the Constitution.
“The Ministry is also alive to the fact that there are other laws that affect the media and continues to engage with other government stakeholders to ensure that we create a more favourable working environment for the media to operate in.
“Government is at hand to give assistance and support to the media to ensure that they carry out their work unimpeded in a peaceful working environment. After all, media freedom, access to information and free expression are guaranteed by our Constitution.”
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