Media, politicians pledge co-operation

Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau

MEDIA practitioners and those involved in politics have an interdependent bond which is key for successful electoral processes and have promised to work together in the 2023 harmonised polls.

Speaking during a media and election workshop that was organised by Zimbabwe Institute which ended yesterday in Kadoma, the two groups that have had a cat-and-mouse affair, vowed to work together for Zimbabwe’s democratic development.

Zanu PF Information director Cde Tendai Mugwadi said the party has always remained open to all in the media, while MDC-A’s secretary-general, Mrs Paurina Mpariwa said political parties needed a media which operated professionally, freely and protected.

CCC secretary-general, Mr Chalton Hwende asked for the media to provide equitable coverage to all in politics.

The three political parties that were selected on the basis that they have representation in Parliament, concurred that the media was critical to their election campaigns calling for a different approach which helps Zimbabwe develop.

Both public and private media editors that represented various media houses in Zimbabwe, said they would continue providing universal coverage to the scores of political parties that are registered with Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, but wanted them to assure the safety of journalists.

Harassment and insults of journalists have been rampant with media lobby groups such as Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Zimbabwe Union of Journalists and Media Alliance of Zimbabwe calling all political parties to restrain their supporters against attacking journalists.

ZEC spokesperson, Jasper Mangwana said most political parties were migrating to digital media which the commission was dealing with to ensure that there is accurate information circulating.

“There is a lot of misinformation and disinformation that is going on and discredits the reputable electoral process. We are appealing to the regulators and journalists for the use of media responsibly,” he said adding there was also a need for media practitioners to pull down misleading information.

Director of strategy and innovation of Royal Media in Kenya, Mr Linus Kaikai, who gave an insight into that country’s political and media landscape, said a volatile political situation was detrimental to the media environment.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said, the workshop was important as Zimbabweans deliberate about peaceful elections.

“This is a good time to talk about it as we are going towards the 2023 elections. It is important for everybody to understand that the Government of the Second Republic has created an environment where elections should be held very peacefully.

“The contestations should not bring on violence, neither should they bring divisions which are detrimental to the fact that we are all Zimbabweans first, one people, one country,” she said.

Her deputy, Kindness Paradza addressing the delegates yesterday castigated animosity between the media and politicians calling the two parties to work together for the country’s growth.

“We want to do something different as a country so that we don’t have any altercations between the journalists and the politicians.

“We want them to understand each other and we want journalists as we go towards elections to make sure they report accurately about what the politicians are saying or doing,” he said.

“We don’t want what we have been seeing before, that we see some kind of a war between journalists and politicians. This we say it must stop.

“And the Minister has directed that the media should give equal opportunities to all contesting political parties in this coming election,” he said.

Despite being present to provide equitable coverage to all political gatherings and rallies during the March 26, 2022 by-elections, the state media were confronted with challenges as some political parties apparently viewed them as people with sinister motives.

A recommendation was concurrently agreed by participants yesterday that senior journalists must cover elections while equipping of foot soldiers with necessary skills to deliver or report on elections in an accurate manner also was moved.