Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Media Commission has been challenged to roll out media literacy campaigns aimed at protecting the public against misinformation and disinformation against the backdrop of proliferation of countless online sources.
Speaking during the official opening of the five-day ZMC strategic planning workshop in Mutare, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, who was represented by the Director of Media Services in the same ministry, Mr George Chisoko, said: “One of the most urgent tasks facing this Commission is the promotion of media literacy. The Government expects ZMC to take this issue very seriously indeed.
“In this digital age, our citizens are bombarded with information from countless sources, many of which are unverified and unreliable. Without the skills to critically evaluate this information, our people are vulnerable to manipulation and deception.
“The ZMC must launch robust media literacy campaigns. You must partner with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and other stakeholders to integrate media literacy into school curricula. You must work with aligned civil society organisations and UNESCO to reach communities across the country.
“An informed citizenry is the best defence against disinformation and the best guarantee of a healthy democracy. This must be a cornerstone of your strategic plan.”
The strategic workshop comes hard on the heels of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment of eight new members to the Zimbabwe Media Commission under Section 248(1)(b) of the Constitution.
