Media must promote peace, development: Min Mutsvangwa
THE media must be a vehicle to promote peace and development, and the Second Republic is committed to continue implementing reforms that support growth of the Fourth Estate, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
Speaking at a media cocktail held in Bulawayo on Thursday on the sidelines of the just-ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), Sen Mutsvangwa outlined how the media has a crucial role to play in informing and educating the people in the run-up to next year’s general elections and the attainment of an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“It is the Second Republic’s desire to see all Zimbabweans interact and unite as one people in the spirit of Ubuntu and especially as we gravitate towards the 2023 general elections.
“The media has a significant role to play to preach peace and encourage development in our country in line with the President’s call that development should leave no one and no place,” she said.
Sen Mutsvangwa added that the Second Republic has listened to media stakeholders’ concerns and instituted reforms in the media sector.
“We instituted regulatory and legal reforms in the media sector that culminated in the scrapping of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) law and gave birth to the Freedom of Information Act. Today I am happy to share with you that the Second Republic does not merely talk the talk but rather walks the talk,” she said.
Sen Mutsvangwa said the Government has opened up the media space and is currently seized with finalising the Zimbabwe Media Practitioners Bill that seeks to democratically hold the media accountable, without fear of violence and harm to media practitioners. She said the recent licensing of television and radio stations has created employment for media graduates.
“We have not stopped licensing more
radio and TV stations. Recently, we licensed 14 community radio stations, seven campus radio stations, six privately-owned television stations comprising Jester Media Services, Acacia Media, Zimpapers Television Network, Channel Dzimbahwe, Rusununguko Media and Fairtalk Communications as well as the completion of some digital terrestrial television projects which now await commissioning.”
By also licensing community radio stations, the remotest and marginalised communities in the country have been given a voice to express themselves, whilst voicing their aspirations and challenges, said Sen Mutsvangwa.
“Some of these community radio stations have since gone live on air, with Avuxeni in Chiredzi being the first one, followed by Nyangani FM.