MILLICENT HUNGWE
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) held a media training session, to strengthen journalists’ understanding of human rights, peace building, and the importance of reporting issues that reflect community voices.
The program was facilitated by ZPP communications and advocacy lead, Kudakwashe Matambo last Friday at Bethany in Masvingo and was attended by journalists from all media houses in Masvingo City including freelancers.
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The training emphasized the need for media practitioners to anchor their work on the constitutional provisions of Zimbabwe, and to promote peace and development through accurate, data-driven and verified reporting.
The session urged journalists to become agents of peace by highlighting stories that foster unity and community growth.
ZPP encouraged the media to help the public understand the value of community development within peaceful environments.
“Human rights reporting is crucial in ensuring that injustices and violations are not hidden, but instead are brought to light with integrity and evidence,” he added.
Through balanced and factual reporting, journalists help create accountability and give a voice to the marginalized.
“We as ZPP believes the media is a watchdog that protects the rights of citizens by exposing abuse and informing authorities and the public.
“Additionally, ZPP promotes human rights reporting as a tool to prevent conflict and violence.
“By sensitively reporting on community grievances, media practitioners can highlight early warning signs of instability and allow for timely interventions,” Matambo explained.
In this way, the media contributes directly to peace-building efforts, which is a core objective of ZPP’s work across Zimbabwe.
Lastly, empowering journalists with human rights knowledge aligns with ZPP’s mission to promote a culture of justice, tolerance, and peace.
When journalists understand both the rights of individuals and the responsibilities of institutions, they can guide public discourse in a way that supports democratic growth and social cohesion.
This engagement in Masvingo was part of ZPP’s wider strategy to build informed media champions across the country.
Matambo also highlighted the common challenges faced by journalists, such as limited access to victims, lack of data and difficulty in securing sources, as well as threats and editorial pressures.
