Online Reporter
Alicia Kadzviti
Herald Reporter
JOURNALISTS have been urged to play a leading role in amplifying issues at the intersection of climate change and social protection, amid growing calls for stronger public awareness and policy accountability.
This emerged at a media engagement in Harare yesterday, facilitated by the Zimbabwe Social Protection Platform.
Zimbabwe has a robust social protection platform including paying school fees for the vulnerable, cash transfers in times of drought and provision of food to both rural and urban communities when harvests have been affected by climate change.
Speaking at the workshop, Africa Platform for Social Protection Platform executive director, Dr Tavengwa Nhongo, said the media played a critical role in clarifying the concept of social protection and its significance to people.
“There may be misconception or misalignment with regards to what social protection is.”
Dr Nhongo said that social protection mechanisms were designed by the Government, with support from development partners and other stakeholders, to cushion citizens against shocks and vulnerabilities.
He highlighted climate change as a major driver of such shocks citing droughts, floods and disasters affecting communities across the country.
He also stressed that the media must help the public recognise that social protection is not charity, but a right according to the United Nations and a structured policy response.
Dr Nhongo noted Zimbabwe’s achievements on a continental level. The country was the first in Africa to sign, ratify and deposit instruments under the African Union’s Protocol on Social Protection.
“This is a huge milestone for the country, but I don’t think the media covered it very well. The next step is to domesticate the protocol and ensure that social protection programmes are fully funded and accessible to all citizens,” he said.
He underlined that public understanding and sustained attention largely depended on consistent and informed media coverage.
National coordinator of the Zimbabwe Social Protection Platform Felistas Phiri described the media as central to advancing the social protection agenda.
“We cannot do this alone without the media. The media is a very important partner in our agenda,” said Ms Phiri.
Climate change and social protection were interconnected, so when climate shocks hit communities, social protection systems should serve as a cushion.
“Information can only be spread if media houses are well informed,” said Ms Phiri.
A representative of the Zimbabwe Climate Change Coalition, Ms Elizabeth Chanyau, highlighted the critical connection between climate change and social protection, particularly for vulnerable communities.
“These two cannot be separated because climate change really affects, especially the vulnerable communities, and social protection is there to assist those vulnerable communities, groups and individuals,” she said.
Ms Chanyau stressed the importance of collaboration between Government and non-governmental organisations to ensure affected communities received support.
“It should be noted that each and every one should get assistance from social protection because is really a right,” she said.
Ms Chanyau underscored the workshop’s relevance in strengthening partnerships with the media to ensure effective reporting and advocacy on issues affecting communities impacted by climate change.
To deepen media engagement, plans to organise an annual media awards ceremony to recognise outstanding reporting on climate change and social protection are underway.
Said Ms Phiri: “We have already established a committee that will then judge different stories from media houses.”
