Ray Bande, Senior Reporter
THE newly appointed Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has been strongly warned against the pilferage of resources and urged to focus on its core mandate for the benefit of citizens.
In a keynote address at the official opening of a five-day ZMC strategic planning workshop in
Mutare, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services,
Mr Nick Mangwana, warned that the Media Fund and grants from the fiscus were intended to support the development of a diverse and ethical media sector, rather than line individuals’ pockets.
Mr Mangwana was represented at the event by the Ministry’s Director of Media Services, Mr George Chisoko.
“Furthermore, I must address the issue of pilferage and malfeasance. The Government has noted, with concern, past reports of financial mismanagement within the commission. The public purse is sacred. The Media Fund and grants from the fiscus are intended to support the development of a diverse and ethical media sector, not to line the pockets of individuals,” he said.
He noted that the Executive expected the new commissioners to uphold the highest standards of financial accountability in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act.
“The Government does not expect that this will be the case again. We expect the highest standards of financial probity. Every cent must be accounted for. The Commission must adhere strictly to the Public Finance Management Act.
“There will be zero tolerance for corruption. The issue of abusing fuel disbursements should be a thing of the past. The Government expects a clean audit report, and we will not hesitate to take action if there are any breaches,” Mr Mangwana warned.
He reminded the ZMC of its constitutional obligations to safeguard human rights and freedom of expression.
“The Government has a clear set of expectations, which we will discuss in detail today. Without compromising your independence as a Chapter 12 Commission, these are not suggestions; they are constitutional obligations. You must guarantee freedom of expression while protecting the rights of citizens.
“You must facilitate the citizens’ right to access information and implement clear procedures for Freedom of Information requests. You must register and accredit media houses and journalists.
“You must investigate complaints and enforce corrective measures proportionately. You must combat misinformation and disinformation. You must strengthen media literacy campaigns. You must encourage multilingual programming that reflects our cultural diversity,” he said.
The workshop follows President Mnangagwa’s recent appointment of eight new members to the ZMC in terms of Section 248(1)(b) of the Constitution.
Mr Mangwana also challenged the commission to roll out robust media literacy campaigns to protect the public from unverified information circulating online.
“One of the most urgent tasks facing this Commission is the promotion of media literacy. The Government expects the 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 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,” he said.
The workshop brought together ZMC commissioners, Government representatives, media stakeholders, management and staff to deliberate on the commission’s strategic priorities.
ZMC Executive Secretary Mr Godwin Phiri emphasised the need to invest in digital skills, artificial intelligence (AI) and modern research to remain relevant amid a rapidly changing media landscape.
“The media industry we knew 10 years ago is very different from the industry we see today. There was a time when newspapers, radio and television dominated the flow of information. Today, a person with a smartphone can produce content and reach thousands, sometimes millions, of people within minutes.
“Artificial intelligence is changing how news is gathered, written, edited and distributed. Social media has transformed public communication. We are witnessing the emergence of new opportunities, new business models and new challenges that we could hardly have imagined a few
years ago,” Mr Phiri said.
He noted that traditional media houses were grappling with declining revenues and changing audience preferences, forcing journalists and media organisations to adapt to new industry demands.
“Journalists are having to acquire new skills to remain competitive. Media organisations are being forced to rethink how they operate. We cannot ignore these realities.
“And we certainly cannot expect to remain relevant if we continue operating as though nothing has changed. Our constitutional mandate remains important, but the methods we use to fulfil that mandate must evolve. We must invest in digital skills, artificial intelligence, media monitoring, research and innovation,” Mr Phiri concluded.
