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Abel Zhakata in Mutare
Religion and the media are influential institutions which when allowed to unite and work in unison will bring about societal and economic development, Zimpapers board member Bishop Trevor Manhanga has said.
Addressing religious leaders at a breakfast meeting hosted by Zimpapers publication, The Manica Post, on Friday in Mutare, Bishop Manhanga urged church leaders to embrace the newspaper as their partner.
The breakfast meeting, which drew religious leaders from across the province, offered The Manica Post as medium of communication to religion.
A page titled “Faith Matters” has since been reserved to cater for stories on religion.
“If you want to do anything and ignore the religious community, you are bound to fail,” said Bishop Manhanga. “We are grateful of the initiative being taken by The Manica Post to give us space in their publication.
“This shows that the organisation respects religion. When religion unites with the media, it’s a bond between two vital drivers in the community. The church is an education centre and the media chips in to disseminate that information.”
Bishop Manhanga said the page reserved by The Manica Post for religious issues would give people an understanding of their faith.
“It’s a mirror that will show the world what Christians and Moslems believe in,” he said. “The Manica Post is giving us a wonderful opportunity to talk about our faith and educate people. Let’s share on the faith page the wonderful things that are happening in all the churches.
“A lot of community developmental projects are being carried out by church organisations and the world needs to know about that. The next time that our brothers in Marange (apostolics) have a Passover, we make sure that we have a special edition to highlight that event.
“By so doing we connect the paper with that religious grouping. The establishment of the faith page is most welcome. When we have Ramadan we want our Muslim brothers to be captured on the faith page as well.”
Religious leaders were encouraged to write articles that educate people on issues they desire.
The Manica Post sales, marketing and distribution manager Mrs Elizabeth Mushonga said by coming up with the faith page, the paper was opening lines of communication with various religions.
“This is our response to the need by church leaders to afford them a voice and space in our publication,” she said. “We are bringing religious leaders together and offer the paper as their first choice to communicate messages to the people.
“For a long time, religious issues had no space in the paper and we hope by giving churches the voice, our circulation figures will improve as Christians will definitely identify themselves with the content stherein.”
The Anglican Church’s Bishop Ruwona urged the religious community to grab the opportunity and communicate with the people using the faith page.
He said The Manica Post needed the support of church organisations to remain viable.
Questions were raised on the need to submit articles that do not cause friction between church organisations but promote good morals in the community.
It was also proposed that the paper be sold at church premises to increase circulation figures.
This would be aided by giving religious stories prominence to excite Christian readers.
Online Reporter