adminProsper Ndlovu Deputy News Editor
MEDIA organisations should embrace gender equality by elevating female journalists to positions of authority, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services said yesterday.
“We’re a constitutional democracy, and this is in our constitution. Important in the media is the question of gender and equality. One thing that is bothering us in the ministry is that as we speak right now there is no female editor in major newspapers or media houses,” Professor Jonathan Moyo said, speaking in Bulawayo.
Prof Moyo, speaking at a graduation ceremony for 31 mass communication students from Business Environment Studies College (BES), said the media should give equal opportunities to men and women.
“As you look here, there are a lot of female graduates. Why are they not becoming editors? Is it because they’re not as qualified?”
Prof Moyo said the Zanu-PF government was a champion of gender equality and challenged media houses to follow suit.
“We need to do something, we need to see policy interventions by media houses. The current situation of disparities in the media houses or newsrooms is unacceptable,” he said. “In our party, we believe in 50/50. But we don’t want to use quotas . . . In a political situation, we will say phambili lamaquotas but this is an educational environment, phambili will sound like an attack on rationality, we want competence.”
Prof Moyo said the graduates were assured of employment as the country was warming up for major growth in the media sector through the introduction of new radio stations.
The minister said the future was “pregnant with positive prospects” for journalists.
He urged journalists to shun polarisation and focus on common values that uphold the gains of the liberation struggle and unite the nation.
Prof Moyo said the media should conduct their duties in a professional manner and avoid inciting violence but always thrive to eliminate all forms of division in society.
He said upholding the rule of law was enshrined in the constitution and should not be viewed as an attack on anyone.
The minister said governance issues were at the centre of the liberation struggle and should not be confused with issues of factionalism.
He warned journalists against being swayed into chasing factional pursuits at the expense of broader national interests.
Online Reporter