Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) this week held a two-day Communications Strategy Development workshop in Harare, aimed at enhancing its visibility, efficiency and stakeholder engagement as part of its 2026–2030 Media and Communications Strategy.
The initiative, supported by media partners and its sister institutions, sought to bridge the gap between strategy and practice by equipping commission with tools to communicate the constitutional mandate more effectively in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Speaking at the workshop, ZHRC chairperson Ms Fungayi Jessie Majome, emphasised that the workshop was central to ensuring the Commission’s work is understood and trusted by citizens.
She said that communication was as critical as the commission’s investigative and advocacy functions.
“The main thrust is to ensure that we improve our visibility and also increase the efficiency of our communication systems both internally and externally,” she said.
“The whole idea is to ensure that our stakeholders are kept involved, informed and interested.”
Ms Majome further highlighted that every member of the commission is an ambassador of its work, saying that credibility depends on clear and consistent communication.
“A human rights institution can only be effective if the public is aware of it, trusts it and engages with it,” she said.
“By the end of this workshop we expect to lay a solid foundation for a strategy that ensures our work is visible, accessible, and impactful across the country.”
ZHRC Commissioner Dr Eng Martin Muduva emphasised the integration of technology into the commission’s communication matrix.
He said that digital platforms are vital for engaging stakeholders.
“We are integrating technologies within the communication matrix but without underscoring the risks associated with technology in the communication processes,” he said.
“We have already made progress towards compliance with the Cyber Data Protection Act, ensuring we have a licensed data controller and a data protection officer.”
Eng Muduva also highlighted the commission’s efforts to expand its digital presence and revitalise internal communication systems.
“We encourage our stakeholders to interact with our platforms on Facebook, WhatsApp, and X as we intensify our ability to generate content and engage externally,” he said.
“Internally, we have revitalised our communication processes to improve the experience of our human capital as they execute their duties.”
