Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
INNOVATION and digital transformation are at the heart of the survival and growth of Zimbabwe’s media industry, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere has said.
He made the remarks after touring Herald House in Harare yesterday where he commended Zimpapers’ ongoing digitisation and modernisation drive, which has already transformed newsrooms and content delivery systems.
“The Stone Age did not come to an end because there was a shortage of stones, but because people decided to innovate.
“That innovation is very key as we journey towards an upper-middle-income society.
“Broadband and ICT have totally transformed the way we live, communicate, share ideas, generate content and distribute the same content,” said Dr Muswere.
He said the Government fully supported Zimpapers’ digital migration, which has already seen the successful refurbishment of Herald House and the establishment of an integrated Artificial Intelligence-powered newsroom.
The project, initially budgeted at US$1,5 million, was completed at less than US$600 000 and is expected to significantly boost revenue streams.
“The recapitalisation and digital transformation taking place at Zimpapers show remarkable success,” Dr Muswere said.
“This not only reduces costs, but also gives Zimbabwe capacity to broadcast and generate content globally, thereby strengthening our national soft power.”
The minister said the next phase of the project will focus on the Zimpapers Bulawayo branch and other strategic business units across the country.
Beyond infrastructure investment, Dr Muswere said Government was working with media stakeholders to ensure ethical governance and professionalism in the industry.
“We have witnessed an erosion in cultural and ethical standards in some areas of media practice,” he said.
“That is why we are finalising a draft code of conduct under the Zimbabwe Media Commission, supported by experts, seasoned journalists and the ministerial advisory committee.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a reality.
“We have to be part of it, but we need guidelines in terms of how media practitioners operate in order to grow the sector, to ensure that we have credibility and ethics that govern the industry.
“This is why we need a whole-of-sector approach in terms of the governance and all these will be taking place through a stakeholder’s approach to generate as many great ideas is possible, both from content creators and media practitioners of all media houses.”
