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Talent Chimutambgi
Herald Reporter
THE media should operate within the confines of the Constitution to promote the development and realisation of the country’s national aspirations, Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) chairperson Professor Ruby Magosvongwe said yesterday.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting in Harare to improve relations between the media and the police, Prof Magosvongwe said the ZMC continued to make a “clarion call for the media to take stock of its role as the Fourth Estate in the development matrix of the country”.
“Our Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the media, which is a bold statement meant to ensure that the media plays its expected role without any limitations in empowering people with the relevant information for the realisation of their aspirations.
“Today’s engagement is meant to provide a platform where the media can interact with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and share some insights on how the two institutions can collaborate for the good of the country,” she said.
Prof Magosvonge called on the media to ensure good relations between the police and the public, noting that some sections of the media portrayed a bad image of the police.
Reports from the ZMC media monitoring, she said, had shown that at times, media outlets had sensationalised police operations, misrepresenting the ZRP’s actions and fuelling public mistrust of the police.
“Such a scenario can lead to limited effective communication and co-operation between the two institutions, with negative consequences for both and the country,” Prof Magosvongwe said.
She said the media should always uphold its watchdog role to bring to the fore all societal ills.
“Such synergies are necessary in building some good working rapport for the good of all. We continue to urge our media industry to be professional when reporting national issues that border on the country’s security,” said Prof Magosvongwe.
The media and the police were essential pillars in the functioning of democratic societies and the media served as a watchdog, ensuring that institutions, including law enforcement, remained accountable, she said.
Speaking at the same occasion, National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi commended journalists for covering the 2023 harmonised elections in a manner that promoted peace and security.
He said the media should bring to the fore drug and substance abuse issues since they were affecting everyone.
Comm Nyathi urged the media and police to find each other.
“The media should interrogate misconducts on the road, so the media must address social ills. The police can’t do it alone. The media must bring to the fore all these misdemeanours,” he said.
The Herald Editor Victoria Ruzvidzo commended ZRP for its sterling work and encouraged timeous release of information by the police and other sources to counter fake news, lies and misinformation peddled on social media.
She said with the advent of social media, everyone had become a journalist, but many were abusing the platforms.
The breakfast meeting was convened by the ZMC and was attended by representatives from accredited media institutions and the police.
The ZMC is one of the five Chapter 12 independent commissions whose purpose is to promote democracy in society driven by respect for the Constitution, rule of law, democracy and human rights, among others.
Online Reporter