Better Off Journalists’ Welfare: Mutsvangwa

Information,Publicity and Broadcasting Services ,Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said media houses must better off the welfare of journalists by “life- rewarding salaries” and decent working conditions.

In a statement to mark this year’s World Press Freedom day which is commemorated on the 3rd of May yearly, Minister Mutsvangwa said Government was committed to ensure a safe and conducive working environment for media personnel.

“Reporters and Journalists are state watchdogs with a mandate of searching, processing and spreading information to the general public”, she said.

“It is therefore, important that their ability to carry out this task is not tempered with. They should be given ample space so that they can speak truth to power,safety of their working environment is vital”, she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa reiterated that, threat of death or imprisonment of reporters and journalists has no place in civilised societies.

“It is also of great significance to ensure that press workers’ welfare is improved upon through provision of proper working conditions and life rewarding remuneration”, Mutsvangwa said.

“The Government of Zimbabwe is fully committed to the principles of Press freedom and this is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights”

Minister Mutsvangwa added that,Government’s commitment to fulfil regional and international human rights instruments is reinforced by our Zimbabwean Constitution.

Section 61 and 62 of the country’s supreme law advocates for freedom of the media.

Journalists, however, have to stay clear of sensationalism in their work, she added.

“On their part, journalists must improve upon the standards of the proffession.

“Report in an informative and analytical way.Avoid tabloid sensationalism, this is why my Ministry with cooperating partners carried out a number of training workshops for journalists to improve on their Covid-19 reporting skills”, said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“Government has adopted stringent policies against the spread of false information and it is our belief that the measures put in place provide good grounds for credible journalism to thrive”.

Minister Mutsvangwa reinforced that, employers in the media sector must strive to provide workers with protective clothing in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

“This year’s World Press Freedom Day commemorations came at a time when Zimbabwe and the whole world are locked in a life – and – death combat against Covid- 19,” she said.

” These are trying times and Government ,through the Ministry of Information,Publicity and Broadcasting Services, has been consulting widely on how best to support this sector during and beyond Covid -19″, she said.

“The media plays a pivotal role in the fight against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic and citizens depend on the media for information that empowers them to adequately respond and to implement measures to contain the spread of Covid- 19”,Minister Mutsvangwa said.

“It is for this reason the Government has included journalists among the essential service providers and for them to be given the necessary support while carrying out their work,” she said.

“Government has also emphasized the need to ensure that journalists safety is guaranteed and that all media workers have access to protective clothing and equipment.”

Currently, the Government is reforming the country’s media laws to ensure that media freedoms are respected inline with the constitution.

“In pursuing vision 2030 aptly articulated by our President, His Excellency President E.D Mnangagwa, Government has been taking leadership in ensuring that it creates a conducive environment for the media sector”, she said.

Since last year,Government has sponsored three bills that will repeal the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act(AIPPA).One of the Bills, Freedom of Information Bill, which attempt to ensure the passing of access to information, has since been passed by the Parliament and now awaits Presidential assent.

The other law, Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill takes a closer look at the regulation of the media and maintenance of professional standards is at second stage reading in Parliament.

The Protection of Personal Information/ Data Protection Bill is presently in the works.

In a bid to promote pluralism and media diversity, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe(BAZ) has since received applications for community radios and private television stations.

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