Media, elections and peace building in Zimbabwe

LET me preface my submission by posing some questions on the role of the media in fostering peaceful electoral processes.

In posing these questions, the submission will not necessarily seek to respond to the interrogations scientifically or systematically, but rather just as teasers that will seek to influence dialogues on how to strengthen the role of the media and journalism towards building sustainable peace during the electoral period and beyond.

The first question, which may seem mundane on the surface yet complex in interrogation being whether the media has a role in the conduct of a free, fair, peaceful and credible election? If at the end of the day, the electoral outcome comes down to whoever would have outnumbered political competitors — itself a basic arithmetic process, at what point can we really track the influence and impact of the media on the conduct of the voter or citizen?

Another question worth pondering on is around the nature of preparedness for the media in contributing to peaceful elections?

In other words, what conditions are necessary for the media to effectively contribute to peaceful electoral processes acceptable to key actors and stakeholders?

While responses to the questions posed in this submission are subject to various interpretations and viewpoints, what cannot be contested, more so in this digital age is how the impact of what citizens consume in news and information has been greatly enhanced.

What makes it even more compelling for media and electoral stakeholders to interrogate is the shrinking space of traditional media outlets, whose currency is the ability to expertly verify, balance and package news and information, while minimizing harm and mitigating information that could be sensitive.

The digital age, though it has brought with it immense benefits in the realm of communication and expanding free expression and access to information, has brought about its fair share of challenges around invasion of privacy, digital security and disinformation.

Disinformation in particular has made the role of the media in fostering a peaceful election even more complex.

The argument is less complex with mainstream media, where if these platforms serve electoral stakeholders, particularly covering political competitors fairly and giving equal prominence to contestants then the likelihood of reducing conflict will be higher.

The target is easily identifiable.

You can engage with owners, executives, editors and gatekeepers and the journalists.

These structures that exist within news media organisations are often made public for engagement and for holding the media accountable.

Not that the existence of these identifiable structures make the mainstream media a positive agent for peace and minimizing the effects of conflict.

The political economy of the media and commercial interests have often driven the agenda of traditional media to the extent that these competing interests often eclipse the legal and professional obligations.

Instead of the media interpreting the national question during the electoral period, there has often been embedded journalism that even fuels conflict.

In these instances, the mainstream media may choose to be sensational and to give prominence to that which plays contesting parties against each other with little attention given to facts and preserving the sanctity of truth.

However, in these instances there would be codes of conduct, peer review mechanisms and enforceable legal instruments to ensure compliance and adherence.

To this end, there have been nonviolent mechanisms to hold media accountable and persuasive mechanisms to ensure that the media becomes a critical cog in fostering peace during the electoral processes.

There has been the introduction of mid-career training programs around conflict-sensitive journalism that is anchored on reducing sensationalism and ensuring appropriate language is used in media circles.

Media professional associations have also been playing a critical role in supporting peaceful electoral processes.

The case of Lesotho, which held elections in 2022 provides some useful lessons on a multi-stakeholder approach towards promoting peace, beginning with the safety of the messenger, the journalists and to mainstream the peace within the message that is disseminated.

The media bodies were able to get key electoral sectors, among them the police, political parties and the elections management body into signing an electoral pledge that they monitored and reviewed periodically.

It was notable that as a result of that intervention, there was reduction in cases of violence against the media and there was acknowledgement of how conflict-sensitive reportage was instrumental in fostering a generally peaceful environment during the electoral period.

Zimbabwean media stakeholders are modelling similar interventions albeit in a contextualised manner, wherein the respective actors and stakeholders are being engaged separately but with the same objective.

The key outcome in facilitating such processes is to ensure that the mainstream media serves as a platform for all contesting parties in line with their professional and legal obligations and that there is a peaceful operating environment for the media.

More however needs to be invested in ensuring that such interventions are strengthened and expanded to the online space, where the generated content is predominately unmitigated.

The challenge also being striking a balance between expanding the space for citizens to enjoy their rights to express themselves yet preserving the peace and integrity within those spaces.

The solution will not happen as an event but rather a sustained and engaging process.

And this process has to be anchored on trust. The narrative that is already building on social media within the Zimbabwean publics is reflective of the polarization that is deeply entrenched within our societies – manifesting and playing out within the media.

By its nature polarization is toxic and could translate into violent confrontations or hateful engagement.

Yet, there is opportunity for key agents to be leading lights in pushing back against polarised and doctored information and promoting peaceful engagements in the media space.

The mainstream media is such an agent.

Strengthening mainstream media as a credible source of verified and accountable information and to ensure that such news and information has a lion’s share on social media platforms is a step towards peace building.

There ought to be a multi-stakeholder approach that will also include religious leaders occupying strategic spaces in media such that the peace messages are mainstreamed.

Media literacy campaigns against disinformation should be up scaled while giving prominence to agents and platforms that fact check public interest information.

A discerning and informed citizenry is more inclined to peaceful engagements notwithstanding the propensity of the differences in opinions.

*Nigel Nyamutumbu is a media development practitioner currently serving as the Coordinator of a network of nine media professional associations and media freedom advocacy organizations, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe. He made this submission at a dialogue and exchange programme facilitated by the American Friends Service Committee and its partners in Capetown, South Africa between May 30 and 2 June 2023. He can be contacted on +263 772 501 557 or njnya2@gmail.com