adminThe Herald, October 28, 1980
THE Minister of Information and Tourism, Dr Nathan Shamuyarira, yesterday announced the formation of a new national news agency to be known as the Zimbabwe Inter-African News Agency (Ziana).
The announcement followed a decision taken in Johannesburg earlier in the day by the board of South African Press Association to relinquish its shareholding in Inter-African News Agency.
The Sapa board statement said: “Following cordial discussions between representatives of Sapa and the Minister of Information of Zimbabwe, Dr Nathan Shamuyarira, the board of Sapa resolved to divest itself of its shareholding in the Inter-African News Agency of Zimbabwe.
“This step will enable the Minister to establish a trust to hold the shares of Iana, which will be renamed the Zimbabwe Inter-African News Agency.
“Ziana will continue to be the domestic news agency of Zimbabwe but will be wholly Zimbabwean owned and operated.
“Sapa will cease to have any connection with Ziana other than any contractual agreements, which may be made to buy and sell news services such as may be entered into between any two independent news agencies.
“For its part, Sapa will establish a branch office in Zimbabwe to maintain a flow of news on Zimbabwean affairs to Sapa members and subscribers in South Africa and elsewhere.”
Dr Shamuyarira’s statement said: “This resolution removes the last obstacle in the way of establishing a Zimbabwe news agency.
“We could not perpetuate a situation where the news agency of a free and independent Zimbabwe was owned and managed by a South African company,” he said.
“We made the fact known to Sapa and we are pleased that they have responded positively.
“The Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust to be established soon will take over all the shares of Sapa in Iana. The Trust will be a self-perpetuating body. Initially it will have to be set up by Government, but once that is done it will stand entirely on its own feet.
“The Trust will appoint a manager and an editor for Ziana to replace those appointed by the South African company-Sapa. Most of the staff will be absorbed by the new agency.”
Asked for comment, the chairman of Iana Mr Ken Wilson, last night said he was satisfied the new company will be independent and free from any Government control.
Present staff would be retained, he said, and there would not be any change in their conditions of service.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
It is ideal that information dissemination within a country be done by the citizens of that country. The new Zimbabwe Government saw it fit to take over Iana from the South Africans and transform it into Ziana in order to tell the factual story about the country.
Although Ziana is a pale shadow of its former self, there is still scope for a news agency in the country, considering the level of development taking place throughout the country.
Preserving good relations between nations is essential. Zimbabwe and South Africa continue to share cordial relations as neighbours, and in this instance, the handover-takeover of Iana was concluded cordially.
In any transition, it is important to consider the welfare of workers. The transition from Iana to Ziana did not have adverse effect on the workers as their conditions of service remained unchanged.
Online Reporter