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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Government is looking at ways to improve the viability of New Ziana news agency in line with the vision of the Second Republic.
This was said by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on media to present expectations from the 2019 Budget.
“Strategically as a ministry we are mulling how we can make New Ziana fit for purpose in line with expectations of the new Republic,” Mr Mangwana said.
“If you look at it, it is the only entity with a regional presence and if you look at that with the question of devolution in mind, there could be opportunities that could be leveraged on.”
The news agency owns community newspapers across the country.
He said there were negotiations with the Zimpapers Group, the country’s largest integrated media company, to assist the news agency with printing and distribution of its community newspapers.
Mr Mangwana said another avenue being explored was whether the news agency could be re-absorbed into the parent ministry.
“However, modernisation is needed. This is where, unfortunately this budgeting period came a bit early before we had with New Ziana reached a strategic point to say what do we do with New Ziana?
“How do we approach the new way of disseminating information, but also taking cognisance of rural areas which still predominate our population.”
He said they would have come up with a way forward to make the news agency viable within a year.
Online Reporter