Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe in Beijing, China
MINISTER of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Zhemu Soda has underscored the critical role of the media in defending national sovereignty and shaping Zimbabwe’s development narrative, while urging the Chinese government to continue supporting specialised training for local journalists in digital literacy and information management.
Dr Soda is leading a delegation of more than 20 Zimbabwean media practitioners attending the Seminar for Media Professionals for Zimbabwe in Beijing, China.
Participants at the seminar are drawn from public and private media houses as well as other key stakeholders in the media sector.
The seminar, running from May 7 to 20, is designed to help Zimbabwean media practitioners gain deeper insight into China, foster a fuller understanding of China’s current development landscape and appreciate the country’s modernisation drive.
The engagement is being organised by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), an educational and training institution under China’s Ministry of Commerce.
In his opening address, Dr Soda said the media had a duty to inspire citizens by accurately telling the story of Zimbabwe’s journey towards Vision 2030.
“I call upon our Chinese partners to continue providing specialised training in digital literacy and information management.
“By mastering these technologies, they will ensure that our two nations stories – a stories of sacrifice, resilience and transformation – are heard loudly and clearly across the globe.”
Dr Soda also challenged journalists to effectively communicate Government’s development agenda.
“It is your duty to communicate the government’s development agenda with such clarity that every citizen understands their role in our collective prosperity.”
He said the battle for sovereignty had now shifted to the digital sphere, where misinformation and manipulated narratives pose growing threats.
“With Zimbabwe’s sovereignty not for sale, today’s battle for sovereignty has moved to the digital frontier.”
“At present, we are engaged in an information war where our national narrative is often under siege.
“As we move toward becoming a Prosperous Upper Middle-Income Nation, we must confront the rise of misinformation, disinformation and manipulated media,” said Dr Soda.
According to the official programme, the seminar covers topics including China’s national development path, governance philosophy, Chinese modernisation, global communication trends and developments in journalism.
Participants are also expected to receive training in news planning, reporting and writing in the new media landscape, including short-video news production and technology-driven audiovisual communication.
Other areas include China’s film and television industry, international communication and strategies for amplifying national narratives on the global stage.
AIBO will also facilitate discussions between participants and experts as well as field visits and exchange programmes during the course of the seminar.
