Online Reporter
The Herald 14 April 1986
ZIMBABWE Newspapers will continue to improve its coverage of development news and show the readers what projects have taken place in the various rural areas, its managing director and chief executive, Cde Elias Rusike, said last night.
Speaking on television he said Zimpapers would continue to go out in the rural areas and bring to its readers what had been happening there since independence. Asked whether he thought enough had been done, Cde Rusike said there was still room for improvement.
“A start has been made but much more can still be done,” he said.
He reiterated that corruption would continue to be exposed in his papers. Once a report had been tabled in Parliament or in the courts and showed that a particular person had been engaged in corruption, it would be published.
“There is no way we can ignore such a report. It has to be published. What we do not want is to publish a story which turns out not to be true.”
On powers that editors had, Cde Rusike said they had a latitude to decide on a day to day basis what stories to publish and what not to publish free from anyone.
Lessons for today
- Reflecting on Cde Elias Rusike’s statements from 1986, we can draw several important lessons and observations that remain relevant today. Zimpapers’ focus on covering development projects in rural areas highlights the importance of showcasing progress and improvements in all parts of the country.
- Cde Rusike’s commitment to exposing corruption underscores the media’s role in promoting transparency and accountability. Publishing verified reports on corruption helps maintain public trust and encourages ethical behaviour.
- While maintaining independence, working closely with the Government, especially the Ministry of Information, can help ensure that the media has access to accurate and timely information.
