Tinaye Agere
Correspondent
ZIMBABWE continues to garner diplomatic credit due to the Second Republic’s governance transformation.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere in Swakopmund, Namibia, where Zimbabwe is participating at the 8th edition of the Southern African Broadcasting Association (Saba) Broadcast and Digital Media Convention Africa 2024.
The conference was officially opened by the Vice President of Namibia, Mrs Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
While addressing scores of media practitioners in Namibia, Dr Muswere outlined dividends of the Government’s engagement and re-engagement policy.
“The recent assumption of Zimbabwe’s chairmanship expresses our bona fide commitment to strengthening the unity of our region, which is anchored on the freedom of the media,” said Minister Muswere.
“Riding on the global statesmanship demonstrated through the hosting of the last SADC summit, I am more than optimistic of our capacity to host the next edition of this conference.”
The bid proposal is also motivated by several international platforms that Zimbabwe has hosted, such as the Transform Africa Summit in 2023.
Minister Muswere led a delegation of media executives, directors from the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, as well Zimbabwe’s envoy to Namibia Ambassador Melody Chaurura.
During the conference, Dr Muswere further emphasised that the continued infrastructure development in Zimbabwe strengthens the nation’s resolve to host other various international conferences.
“The visionary direction of our President continues to enhance our effective contribution to pro-development dialogue, and I believe this platform provides credible ground for the sharing the great economic opportunities found across our continent. Therefore, given our SADC chairmanship, hosting this conference gestures the level of passion we have in promoting increased media liberties across SADC and the entire African continent.”
The media fraternity was also encouraged to use research to expand the influence of the sector to initiate homegrown models for increased access to information.
“Africa should also take a lead in developing homegrown hardware and software,” he added.
“This is because media sovereignty is key as we have both the historical and moral obligation to ensure that stories about Africa emanate from a point of truth and that we are in control of the narratives about our homeland.”
The media was also urged to deploy resilience mechanisms to ward off the growing deleterious impact of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
“Therefore, SABA must discursively militate against all attempts to disfigure the integrity of our governments by ensuring that media practitioners from Africa curate and protect the African narrative on all aspects, at all costs.”
Dr Muswere also commended the Second Republic for its milestones in delivering access to information.
“In Zimbabwe, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, a number of unparalleled initiatives have been put in place to ensure that we have ubiquitous connectivity, proliferation of community radio stations and new television players,” he said.
He also spoke of the importance artificial intelligence as a topical subject of our time in shaping the future of traditional media.
“We have reached a point of convergence between ICT and broadcast. Consequently, the phone has replaced the cameraman; the watch. Financial inclusivity is resulting in mobile banking and making old transaction methods obsolete. Again, to recalibrate the African renaissance project we must embrace changes in technology so that we correctly locate and preserve our space in determining the future we want for Africa,” Dr Muswere added.
“In embracing the modern digital sophistication to tell our stories, we must guard against the perils of cyber imperialism.”
Dr Muswere further challenged the media to embrace changes in technology so that the African continent competitively tells its story for the promotion of development and preservation of peace.
Online Reporter