The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE media must play a central role in articulating Government’s economic reform programmes and highlight the country’s successes in its quest to transform into an upper middle-income economy by 2030, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
In a statement marking this year’s World Radio Day yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa called on the media to report responsibly and convey a true reflection of the Zimbabwean story.
She said the media should be at the centre of articulating the goals set under the Government’s medium term economic programme — the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). The commemorations are being held under the theme, “New World, New Radio”.
“Despite the challenges Zimbabwe was facing as a result of repeated droughts, the effects of the illegal sanctions and later on the Covid-19 pandemic, the TSP was to a large extent a great success, laying out a firm foundation for the rolling out of NDS1 and 2,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“Media has an important role to inform the nation to ensure the success of our national vision.
“The National Development Strategy needs to be unpacked to the nation in way that is palatable to the men and women in the street.
She said there was need for a national buy-in by citizens to ensure that they contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Beyond informing the nation on what each of us can contribute, media also plays a watchdog role holding the Government to account for its promises to the nation, whilst at the same time scanning the environment to give alerts to threats that can derail our national effort.
“I thus throw the challenge to our media to play its role in gearing the nation towards our collective aspirations.”
The media, she said, should play a role in projecting a good national image to the outside world in order to cement Zimbabwe’s competitiveness.
“The media needs to be conscious that the quest for national development is part of the wider continental vision as encapsulated in the Agenda 2063 as well is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“It is thus the role of our media to reveal the linkages, the opportunities and challenges that present themselves to the nation from these noble goals.”
Minister Mutsvangwa applauded the media for keeping the nation informed during times of natural disasters such as Cyclone Idai and the global pandemic.
“In such disaster situations, the media plays a pivotal disaster management public service especially in broadcasting alerts, warnings and advisories,” she added.
“Media can also play a helpful role in supplying needed information to decision-makers as well as supplying information and directions to the affected public.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank our media for rising up to the challenge both during Cyclone Idai as well as during the pandemic.
“Media played a critical role in helping Zimbabweans to cope with the calamities that have hit the nation in recent times.
The media, she said, played this vital role despite facing operational challenges that included not being adequately prepared and equipped to operate in such life threatening circumstances.
“The nation is most grateful and I urge you to continue playing this critical role of serving the nation. You are indeed our heroes and we remain indebted.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said the Second Republic was implementing media reforms through aligning media laws to the Constitution.
The Government, she said, plans to licence more community radio stations this year and will prioritise licensing operators in areas outside of current radio broadcasting network.
The technological revolution in this age radically changed how information was shared and accessed. However, large parts of Zimbabwe did not have access to the internet or new technologies.
“As such, radio remains the most dynamic, engaging and important medium of communication. Because of its simplicity and affordability, radio should play a leading role in galvanising the nation towards Vision 2030 as well as cope with calamities that befall us, meanwhile educating and entertaining us.
“As our capacity improves, we expect that more community radio stations will be licensed giving priority to other areas that remain outside the radio broadcasting network.”
