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Ray Bande in NYANGA
STAKEHOLDERS in the media industry have spoken highly of the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services’ new open-door stance.
Speaking at the ongoing Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services strategic planning review workshop here in Nyanga, Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe’s director’s Mr Loughty Dube said dealing with the Ministry was a nightmare in the past.
Mr Dube commended Minister Monica Mutsvangwa for a different and open approach in managing affairs of the media industry in the country.
“There were times when we had very difficult and painful experiences in the past when dealing with the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. As a people, we differ robustly on different issues, but we must have time and space to sit down and discuss issues. We are happy that this is now happening, all because of the open-door policy that the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has created. We are thankful to Minister Mutsvangwa and your team for that,” he said.
In a separate presentation, Zimbabwe Union of Journalists’ Secretary General Mr Perfect Hlongwane implored the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to put in place mechanisms that guarantee journalists’ safety.
“Political parties are supposed to lead the discourse on journalists’ safety, but we are worried that most journalists are being attacked at political rallies. We implore the Minister to ensure that the space is not contaminated by violence. We implore that the strategy going forward should have mechanisms that speak to this issue. We also want to urge the Ministry to assist in any way it can to realise the creation of a media employment council that should help in improving the welfare of journalists.
“When you harass a journalist, the whole world will know in a few minutes, and this gives us a bad image as a country. We implore Minister Mutsvangwa to look into journalists’ safety in their line of work,” he said.
Several key stakeholders from the Office of the President and Cabinet, Media Alliance of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Media Commission as well as senior officials in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services that include Permanent Secretary, Mr Nick Mangwana and chief director, Mr Jonathan Gandari made presentations during the ongoing four-day workshop.
Online Reporter