Chronicle Editor
Ivan Zhakata, Harare Bureau Correspondent
THE developments in Information Communication Technology (ICTs) have redefined the media sector, not only in Zimbabwe, but the world over and this development has brought with it what is termed “convergence”, Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) chairperson Professor Ruby Magosvongwe has said.
Speaking at celebrations to mark World Press Freedom Day in Harare yesterday that were organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Prof Magosvongwe said the developments entailed that all content was now converging on one platform, particularly the screen.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day ran under the theme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis”.
Prof Magosvongwe said convergence might be in the form of a telephone handset, computer or any digital gadget.
“This phenomenon is making the traditional means of regulation rather redundant. A study across other jurisdictions points to efforts to combine all traditional regulatory frameworks into one.
“This entails convergence also in the regulatory frameworks. There are studies and attempts to combine the three regimes of media regulation that include the internet, broadcasting, and print into one and this is so as the need to regulate content for the protection of citizens’ rights is becoming more urgent,” she said.
Prof Magosvongwe said as already noted, Zimbabwe has scattered regulatory frameworks and there was an imperative for convergence as envisaged by the Constitution.
The ZMC chairperson said there was a need to revisit the entire media to ascertain what constitutes the media industry and its value chain and come up with a model for modern-day regulation.
ZUJ secretary-general Perfect Hlongwane said they were celebrating the role that journalists and the media play as critical pillars in the growth and enjoyment of democracy in Zimbabwe.
Hlongwane said a free Press promotes transparency, good governance, accountability, inclusivity, and participatory citizenry in critical socio-economic and political discourses in the country.
“The freedom of the Press is therefore essential for the protection of human rights, the advancement of knowledge to emerging challenges such as the environmental crisis, and the fostering of an informed and engaged citizenry,” he said.
“Despite facing challenges of poor salaries, sexual violations and risks, journalists in Zimbabwe continue to work tirelessly to keep the public informed and to ensure that the principles of democracy are upheld. As we mark World Press Freedom Day, we call on the Government and all stakeholders to reaffirm the commitment to upholding the rights of journalists, to protecting their safety and security, ensure they execute their work without any form of reprisal, violations, arrests or hindrance, in keeping with constitutional provisions and improving their welfare through respectable wages and salaries.
“We are cognisant of the strides made so far towards reforming the sector by correcting the legal framework and laws that govern the media,” he said.
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