All set for launch of Zim Media Policy

Sunday Mail Reporters

The Government will launch the Zimbabwe Media Policy on Wednesday, which aims to modernise operations of the media and enhance journalists’ operations.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere recently said the policy is aimed at nurturing a vibrant and sustainable media industry.

“It outlines ambitious goals to transform the media environment through modern infrastructure, emphasising professionalism and creating a comprehensive code of ethics to raise media standards nationwide,” he said.

He said the policy aims to “transform Zimbabwe’s media landscape through the development of modern, efficient and sustainable infrastructure and to promote professionalism and capacitate the industry”.

The policy mandates a 75 percent local content quota for all broadcasting licensees, while specialised broadcasters will adhere to a 50 percent quota.

“The sixth pillar of the policy, which is local content promotion, addresses challenges such as funding constraints, limited producer capacity, the dominance of foreign content and an inadequate regulatory framework,” said Dr Muswere

He said the policy would transform the media landscape through strategic infrastructure development, promoting the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, ensuring media viability and upholding national values, among a host of issues.

Speaking during a working visit to Lotsha FM, a community radio station in Beitbridge, on Friday last week, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Omphile Marupi, said the policy will also address challenges being faced by community radio stations. He underlined the importance of creating an enabling environment for media investment and operations, especially for grassroots-based broadcasters.

He acknowledged the operational difficulties encountered by many of the 14 licensed community radio stations and assured stakeholders that these issues will be addressed in phases.

“We are going to be launching the national media policy on May 28, which we believe will address some of the issues affecting the media houses and journalists countrywide,” said Dr Marupi.

“You will note that previously some laws did not include community radios, but the regulations were focusing on issues to do with the mainstream, public media and commercial radios and hence we need to align the laws to accommodate community radios.

“In the spirit of leaving none and no place behind, the new media policy will ensure that Zimbabweans tell their story in their own language and have equal opportunities to participate in national matters.”

The Deputy Minister said it was critical for the community radios to amass as much content as possible so that they may broadcast meaningful and helpful programmes for people in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

“It is pleasing to note that Lotsha FM has made great progress since its establishment a few years ago and the radio station has been receiving support from many stakeholders for it to remain viable,” he said.

“This is impressive; you can’t even tell that they are operating with a zero budget and at the same time, I want to appeal to the corporate world to be actively involved in this initiative as part of community social responsibility programmes. Our idea is to ensure that besides being on air, these community radio stations are sustainably run through the involvement of everyone around this area.”

He said the licensing of community radio stations brought a positive change in many communities.

The stories that are broadcast by these radio stations, he added, should be fed into national radio stations.

“So, my visit was to also trigger and activate that mentality that what they do should not only be limited to Beitbridge, but should reach out to a wider audience,” he said.

Lotsha FM station manager Miss Progress Moyo said while the station was making commendable strides, it still faced challenges in extending its signal to the areas under Chiefs Tshitaudze (west) and Matibe (east).

The station covers a radius of 70km, falling short of reaching all communities in a district that spans at least 125km east to west.

Beitbridge West National Assembly representative Cde Thusani Ndou welcomed the Deputy Minister’s visit, noting it was long overdue.

He expressed hope that the Government would urgently address the major challenges facing community radio stations.