MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Acclaimed psychologist Professor Herbert Zirima will lead wellness sessions for media professionals during the Journalists’ Wellness Week (JWW 2025), a Gender and Media Connect (GMC) initiative running under the theme #RechargeandReconnect!.
The programme aims to address burnout, trauma, and digital harassment among journalists, challenges that are increasingly shaping Zimbabwe’s media landscape.
Held from 1 to 6 December, the event coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and will spotlight the mental health toll of newsroom pressures and online abuse, particularly of women.
GMC Director Patience Zirima said the campaign will help journalists to prioritise their health, noting that “wellness is a prerequisite for press freedom.”
Professor Zirima, Dean of Social Sciences at Great Zimbabwe University and Chair of the Allied Health Practitioners Council, will guide sessions in Gweru and Masvingo focused on mental health literacy and practical coping tools.
The week also features football and netball tournaments at Alex Park, blending physical fitness with emotional renewal.
Co-facilitator Audrey Mtangadura, a counselling psychologist and coach, will lead sessions on emotional intelligence and resilience.
The GMC’s initiative is set to reframe wellness as essential to the sustainability and integrity of journalism.
Journalists are trained to meet deadlines, but few receive guidance on managing the emotional impact of their work.
The introduction of mindlines aims to help them process these experiences and reconnect.
