Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe in BEIJING, China
ZIMBABWE’S media sector must embrace cutting‑edge technology and Artificial Intelligence to keep pace with global real‑time news dissemination, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda has said.
He was speaking here yesterday following an extensive tour of the China Group Television Network (CGTN) headquarters in Beijing.
Dr Soda said Zimbabwe stands to gain valuable lessons from its Chinese counterpart in modernising news production.
“So our visit to CGTN has been eye‑opening,” he told Zimpapers at the Zimbabwe House.
“We have been shown around how work is organised in terms of the collection of news, the production of the various content that is then distributed on the various news platforms.” Minister Soda, who is accompanied by the Chief Director of Government Messaging and Programmes, Mr Jonathan Gandari, Zimbabwe Embassy staff and 11 Zimbabwean journalists, was shown CGTN’s technologically advanced broadcasting facilities with a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence‑driven newsrooms, ultra‑high‑definition production and expansive global digital reach.
“Most importantly, I have seen that the teams that will be working towards the compilation of news are supported by a team of experts in modern technologies like IT personnel,” Dr Soda said.
“That also helps them in preparation of their news content, which aligns with the modern trends and the modern expectations.”
The delegation witnessed first‑hand how CGTN monitors global events across all news segments, ensuring comprehensive worldwide coverage.
As of yesterday morning, CGTN had an audience of 629 964 558, with 201 246 882 active users and 5 313 697 new users in the last 30 days.
Dr Soda also learnt that CGTN has prioritised serving the Global South and countering Western narratives, with AI playing a key role in news production and distribution — an approach that resonated deeply with the Zimbabwean delegation.
“So, it’s been quite interesting, and also the use of AI to generate some content, some stories, how various statistical data are compiled and also kept back in the day to 1949,” he said.
“That’s what they told us, and the ambience of the working environment itself is wonderful.
“We have a lot of lessons that we have learned, and it is something that we think we have to take back home,” he added.
The tour follows high‑level bilateral talks with China’s Minister of the National Radio and Television Administration, Cao Shumin, on Monday, where the two sides discussed enhanced cooperation in broadcasting technology, skills training and digital transformation.
During the tour, CGTN representative Liu Yunzhe underscored the network’s global reach.
“To meet global demand for our products, we have a huge team here in Beijing and three offices in Nairobi (Kenya), London (United Kingdom) and Washington DC.
“We work closely with about 800 people, from correspondents to news anchors, in those three sub‑headquarters,” she said.
“Our slogan at CGTN is ‘To See the Difference’ — and the difference is bias from Western media,” Liu added.
“We want to offer objective news to the Global South.”
She confirmed the network is expanding globally, including to Zimbabwe:
“Some of our partners are from Zimbabwe and have subscription accounts.”
Dr Soda expressed optimism that partnerships with Chinese institutions would help modernise Zimbabwe’s broadcasting sector and strengthen the dissemination of accurate, developmental news to citizens.
Dr Soda is leading a delegation of more than 20 Zimbabwean media practitioners attending the seminar.
Participants are drawn from public and private media houses and other key stakeholders.
The seminar, which runs from May 7 to 20, is designed to help Zimbabwean media practitioners gain a deeper insight into China, foster a fuller understanding of China’s current development landscape and Chinese modernisation.
The engagement is organised by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), an educational and training institution directly under the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.
