MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Journalists have been challenged to strengthen their watchdog role by holding leaders and institutions to account through rigorous and fearless reporting.
Addressing the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) Midlands Provincial Media and Journalism Awards, business mogul Michael Phiri challenged the media to move beyond official statements and interrogate issues affecting communities.
“Ask the hard questions, dig beneath the press release and ensure that promises made to communities are honoured,” he urged.
Phiri emphasised that the media’s responsibility extends beyond reporting events to promoting transparency and accountability in both the public and private sectors.
Ethical and investigative journalism, he noted, remains vital for sustainable development and good governance in the province.
The businessman, who has spent more than three decades building enterprises in the Midlands province, reflected on the Midland’s economic cycles, noting that the media has played a key role in documenting both decline and recovery.
“I have seen our mines close and reopen and our industries struggle and recover. Through it all, the media has remained a constant observer of our story,” he remarked.
Phiri also dismissed the perception that businesses view the media merely as a platform for advertising or a tool for crisis management.
Instead, he emphasised that the relationship between the media and business should be a partnership that promotes accountability, transparency and economic growth.
“The media is the mirror we need, not always the one we want. When a company pollutes a river or a mine exploits labour, it is investigative reporting that forces businesses to correct their conduct,” he noted.
According to Phiri, robust journalism helps ensure companies operate responsibly while also creating an environment where credible information can guide investment decisions.
He added that journalists play a pivotal role in shaping the province’s economic narrative by highlighting opportunities and innovation across sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing.
“When you tell stories of successful projects and new ventures, you inspire confidence and attract investment into the Midlands province,” he added.
However, Phiri warned that the rise of misinformation, particularly on social media, poses a growing challenge that threatens the credibility of information and the stability of businesses and communities.
“In a world flooded with unverified claims, the role of professional journalists as credible gatekeepers of information has become more important than ever,” he cautioned.
He urged journalists to remain committed to accuracy, fairness and ethical reporting while maintaining the courage to ask difficult questions.
Phiri also pledged that the Midlands business community would work towards improving engagement with journalists by promoting openness and access to information.
“On behalf of the business community, we commit to being more accessible and transparent. We want to engage the media not as adversaries but as partners in building this province,” he pledged.
He added that business reporting should not be viewed merely as coverage of corporate affairs but as reporting that directly affects people’s lives.
“Business news is human news because it speaks to jobs, livelihoods and opportunities for families,” he said.
The inaugural ZUJ, MPJMA were sponsored by 19 companies from various business sectors, including Mimosa Mining, Chenxi Investment, River Valley Properties, TelOne, Old Mutual, Mayisukume Medical Village and Sino Zimbabwe, among others.
