NPRC urges media to report responsibly

Wimbainashe Zhakata Mutare Correspondent
THE National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has urged media practitioners to report responsibly in a bid to build the nation.

This came up during an NPRC outreach programme in Mutare. The programme was meant to share with and conscientise Zimbabweans on mechanisms and approaches that will be used in handling issues of national healing and reconciliation.

Addressing stakeholders, NPRC commissioner Dr Geofrey Chada said the media needed to look deep into issues and report responsibly rather than scratching the surface.

“Some disputes are caused by negligent reporting through the media. I urge reporters to report issues that build rather than destroy the nation. You should discourage reports that cause conflict and keep up the mandate to build a peaceful nation. Do not destroy the nation for the sake of selling your media products,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, NPRC Commissioner Patience Chiradza said the programme was meant to accommodate everyone.

“The commission came to the province in February 2018 to consult in terms of what people thought should be included in the strategic plan of the commission. So the commission then went and prepared a five-year strategic plan which is now shared in terms of what we intend to do. We were looking at refreshing the mandate of the commission and our vision,” she said.

She said Zimbabweans needed to make peace with each other despite different political affiliations considering that most of disputes are triggered by politics.

People urged the Commission to look into issues of resettlement of people from areas where investors have come in to conduct business.

They reiterated the need to resettle people in a manner that does not cause conflict as some people had been relocated to areas where they could not continue to sustain their livelihoods.

NPRC is one of the five Independent Commissions established under Chapter 12 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act 2013 for the purpose of supporting and entrenching a culture of human rights and democracy; protecting the sovereignty and interests of the people; promoting constitutionalism; transparency and accountability in public institutions; securing the observance of democratic values and principles by the State and all institutions and agencies of Government as well as ensuring that injustices are remedied as provided for in Section 233 of the Constitution.