marble nkomo
Ranson Madzamba
I HAVE personally attended a number of occasions where journalists are recognised as members of the fourth estate. One would then question, why call them members of the fourth estate?
Well, the reason is that the media is seen as an additional pillar of power in society, moving together with the traditional three branches of Government that are the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.
As much as it is not officially recognised as a branch, the fourth estate, the media, has many attributes in any developmental discourse of a country.
The supremacy of the media is indeed in its ability to shape reality, influence public opinion, among many attributes. It is not merely a passive channel of communication but rather an active force in constructing social and political life. Some pundits will tell you, “The media is even mightier than the gun”
Well, coming back home, the fight for an independent Zimbabwe was not only on the battlefield but also within the dominion of communication. The media played a critical role in shaping perceptions, mobilising support, and legitimising the struggle for a free Zimbabwe where liberty, fraternity and equality prevail. The media thus constructed meanings, identities, and ideologies that influenced both local and international audiences to pay attention to the black majority cause.
Revolutionary narratives and the media
During the liberation struggle, the media was crucial in constructing the discourse of resistance. The black nationalists used pamphlets, newspapers, and radio broadcasts to communicate against the autocratic white minority rule.
The nationalists media framed the struggle as a legitimate fight against colonial oppression rather than an act of rebellion. The media was indeed used to speak back to power. It came up with narratives to justify their actions.
They used the term “freedom fighters” instead of “terrorists” as purported by the Ian Smith Regime. They also framed colonial rule as “oppression and exploitation” and continue to give hope to the black masses. The nationalists media encouraged the youth to join the struggle in their numbers and would all in all instil patriotism among the black majority.
During the fight for an independent Zimbabwe, the media space became a site of ideological conflict where meaning itself was contested. The white minority Government controlled the mainstream media that always delegitimised African nationalism. The black nationalists were portrayed as “extremists”, and guerrilla fighters were labelled as “terrorists.”
The nationalists media and journalists that include Willie Dzawanda Musarurwa and Nathan Shamuyarira developed some counter-narratives that challenged colonial representation. They reasserted the legitimacy of African leadership and also highlighted the lived experiences of oppression among Black Zimbabweans.
Journalists were not neutral conveyors of information but active participants in the fight for independence. Many operated under censorship, exile, or threat of imprisonment, yet continued to report on the realities of colonial rule.
Through platforms such as Voice of Zimbabwe, journalists would disseminate information to rural and urban populations, boosted morale among fighters and civilians and exposed state violence and repression.
Their work contributed to agenda-setting and framing processes, determining, which issues gained prominence and how they were interpreted. In this way, journalists exercised significant discursive power.
The nationalists media contributed to the construction of a collective national identity. It spread messages, mainly on unity, sacrifice, and patriotism. It indeed created a shared sense of purpose among Zimbabweans. It is beyond doubt that the media managed to construct a binary opposition between the oppressed and the oppressor. It also went further to recruit more individuals to identify themselves with the liberation struggle as well as transforming passive citizens into active participants.
The influence of the media extended beyond national borders. Some media houses with the help of some black nationalists, framed the Zimbabwean struggle within the broader context of decolonisation and human rights. This resulted in garnering support from African Nations and International Organisations, putting pressure on the Rhodesian Government and all in all contributing to the diplomatic efforts that led to the Lancaster House Agreement and the Independence of Zimbabwe.
Such is it with the media. It has many attributes crucial enough to take us to an upper middle-income society. It has a bigger role to play for the developmental trajectory of our great nation, Zimbabwe.
n Ranson Madzamba is a Communication Science DPhil student with the Bindura University of Science .
Online Reporter