Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE economic stability achieved under the Second Republic marks a significant milestone worth celebrating, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Zhemu Soda has said.
During a familiarisation tour of Zimpapers’ Mutare branch, which houses The Manica Post and Diamond FM, Minister Soda highlighted that after years of hyperinflation and instability, Zimbabwe’s steady month on month inflation rate and improved food security stand as clear evidence of the Government’s fiscal discipline.
He noted that the Second Republic is now focused on driving further development, attracting investment, and maintaining tight control of the financial sector.
Minister Soda urged media practitioners to give extensive coverage to the country’s economic progress and the National Development Strategy (NDS2), portraying Zimbabwe as a safe and attractive destination for investors.
He further stressed that the imposition of illegal sanctions by Western nations should not be used as an excuse for underperformance, calling on officials to devise innovative strategies that strengthen self reliance and resilience.
“People have a right to be connected through the news that we are disseminating.
“A lot of care has to be taken to ensure that we properly and formally inform people so that they make informed choices. We must not be seen to be misinforming people.
“We are in the National Development Strategy (NDS2) period, where we are supposed to push or inform people about what the NDS2 is all about.
“There are a lot of things that we are supposed to be talking about in NDS2 – the economic stability that we have achieved so far – which we think should be able to spur further development trajectory by ensuring that investors now prefer Zimbabwe as a good and safe investment destination, the food security that we have achieved should also the celebrated.
“Just this week, on Tuesday, Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister (Dr Anxious Masuka) told us that we will establish more winter wheat hectarage, and from that hectarage we will surpass our food requirements in terms of the wheat we require.
“There is a lot that we should be talking about, including the Brand Zimbabwe.
“We must be able to brand Zimbabwe as a preferred investment destination and also to spur the efforts by our tourism industry.
“There is a lot that we should be talking about during this NDS2, including the devolution programmes that are happening, especially as you are covering Manicaland Province.
“All these issues must be featured in The Manica Post and should also be broadcast through Diamond FM,” said Minister Soda.
Minister Soda said the economic sanctions imposed on the country are no longer an excuse for failing to deliver, and office bearers must think outside the box to devise mechanisms and strategies that ensure self-reliance.
“Gone are the days when we used to talk about sanctions, sanctions, sanctions. One of these days, His Excellency (President Mnangagwa) said he is tired of excuses based on sanctions.
“Even for us as ministers in the Cabinet, where we used to say we were supposed to do this, but because of sanctions we failed, and he said you are now preaching to the converted.
“He knows about all those issues, so gone are the days we took sanctions as an excuse.
“Let us think of ways we should build our resilience,” said Minister Soda, further urging the State-owned media entity to be proactive in maintaining and expanding its revenue streams.
“You talked about financial challenges that you are facing, but I am happy you mentioned that you have since started diversifying.
“That is the way to go. You will recall that our Zimbabwe Media Policy speaks of economic sustainability, and these are some of the sustainability mechanisms or strategies that you are supposed to be pursuing, as opposed to pursuing traditional ways of generating income. We need to look at other ways, especially looking at avenues like courier services, just like you have already done. We do not have an excuse for failing to inform our people.
“As Government, we are making every effort to ensure that in areas where the signal is poor, we improve by putting on new equipment.
“We must continue to endeavour to digitalise because gone are the days when people used to look for hard copies to read.
“People nowadays just download and read.
“You must also think of the day when you will not be able to sell even a single copy. How are we going to generate income to cover our costs?” asked Minister Soda.
Minister Soda was accompanied by his deputy, Dr Omphile Marupi, Permanent Secretary, Mr Nick Mangwana, the Ministry’s officials, Zimpapers Chief Executive Officer, Mr William Chikoto, Chief Finance Officer, Mrs Prisca Makandwa, Chief Technology Officer, Mr Gorden Mwerenga, Group Human Resources, Mr Herbert Simemeza, and the company’s general managers, Mr Munyaradzi Hatendi and Comfort Mbofana.
The delegation was welcomed by the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, The Manica Post Editor, Mr Cletus Mushanawani, and Diamond FM station manager, Mr Jabulani Mangezi.
