Chronicle EditorSikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
THE Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has challenged journalists covering this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair to be imaginative in their coverage by prioritising ínnovative exhibits with a potential of making an economic impact.
Launching the new look Ministry this afternoon, Permanent Secretary, Mr Nick Mangwana said the media practitioners must compare what they have seen in the past three exhibits and what is on display this time around.
“We like to see your imagination by covering those things that you believe are innovative and make a difference to the economy, they are different from what you saw in the last few years, you have a responsibility to inform the public as the media,” said Mr Mangwana.
The Permanent Secretary said for the first time, the Ministry was working together with media houses in a different way than it has done over the past few years.
“We have come to an event where we are telling you about our pavilion, as a Ministry, you are our partners and stakeholders therefore you need to understand the partnership that we have with you as our stakeholders and what we are trying to achieve in our exhibition here.
In our Pavillion, we have ZBC, they actually have a cubicle where they are broadcasting directly to the audience. We have transmedia, which is our signal carrier, they have satellite boxes so those who need them will be able to access the platforms of all the television stations that we licenced in the last few years,” said Mr Mangwana.
He said the pavilion was also showing what media encompasses, which includes podcasts and they will be a live podcast by radio personality and podcaster DJ Olla.
Mr Mangwana said a community radio and a compass radio station were broadcasting live from the pavilion.
“Beyond this, we would like to inform the media that related to this ZITF, on Friday we do have an official opening and visit by the Head of State of the Republic of Mozambique, Cde Daniel Chapo, ofcourse His Excellency President Mnangagwa will be working with him. That is a major event.
We have dinner tonight hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it’s another side event. We will give you a chain of side events that are there and we will be most grateful if you cover all those side events because they are part of this year’s calendar,” said Mr Mangwana.
The Permanent Secretary said the Ministry will host a third Media Indaba at the Gallery and it is already well subscribed with lecturers and other players from the media sector and other stakeholders including media students and those in practice set to participate.
“We will be discussing all the subjects around the media and the development in this sector, industrial challenges we are facing. Its both a very enlightening platform in the sense that it’s discussive where the media can express themselves as players, and also very enlightening in that those things that you believe cannot be said, this is the platform where you actually be speaking directly to policy holders,” said Mr Mangwana.
Online Reporter
Sidumisile Mabena