Tendai Muererwa
Mutare – The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) is seeking to develop strategies to address financial sustainability challenges facing media organisations and improve the working environment for journalists as it crafts a new roadmap for the sector.
The commission’s executive secretary, Godwin Phiri said the survival of newspapers and community media outlets was critical to building a strong media industry capable of serving the public interest.
Speaking during a strategic planning workshop in Mutare, Phiri said the commission needed to adopt a forward looking approach that anticipated challenges affecting media organisations instead of responding only after problems had emerged.
He said financial constraints facing media houses and the difficult working conditions experienced by journalists required greater attention as the commission worked to fulfil its mandate. Phiri said the institution also needed to strengthen its capacity to generate knowledge, provide leadership and contribute to practical solutions that would improve the media environment.
The workshop brought together ZMC commissioners, Government representatives, stakeholders, management and staff to deliberate on the commission’s strategic direction.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services called on the commission to strengthen ethical journalism and address the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
Director of Media Services and veteran journalist George Chisoko, who represented Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana, said the commission should enforce media laws and professional standards while safeguarding constitutional freedoms.
Chisoko warned against the misuse of media platforms to spread false information, promote personal interests and undermine the public interest.
Chisoko said media freedom should be exercised responsibly, adding that the commission had a critical role in protecting legitimate press freedoms while addressing professional misconduct. He also urged the commission to align its strategic roadmap with the National Development Strategy Two (NDS2) and ensure that its work contributed to national development.
The workshop comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed eight new members to the commission in terms of Section 248(1)(b) of the Constitution. The strategic planning process is expected to establish priorities for strengthening the commission’s operations, promoting professional standards and supporting a sustainable media industry in Zimbabwe.
