BY STAFF REPORTER
Media and arts experts have called upon Civic Society Organizations (CSOs) to strengthen colloborations with artists and journalists in packaging development information for effective advocacy for improved citizens livelihood and open societies.
Speaking at the African Philanthropy Network APN Assembly running from the 4th – 8th of November in Victoria Falls, the arts and media experts bemoaned how the various sects have been worked in silos to the detriment of civic engagement and citizens participation in development work.
The APN Assembly has brought together over 200 delegates drawn from at least 20 countries as a platform to explore innovative Pan-African ideas that address the economic inequalities, social injustices and environmental concerns that confront the continent.
APN researcher and Tanzanian based journalist Karen Chalamilla said that CSOs, media practitioners and artists need to see value in each other.
“The crux of the matter is that CSOs, media and artists need to see value in each other’s work. These three parties share a lot in common in the work that they do in inspiring change,” said Chalamilla.
“Artists have the capacity to reach wider audiences that CSOs cannot ordinarily reach while the media have the necessary skills to harness information and use various mediums to prompt actions that bring about change.”
Prominent Zimbabwean artist Chirikure Chirikure said that there’s scope for artists and CSOs to forge partnerships that amplify developmental messages.
“Artists need to be equipped to understand the work of CSOs beyond just being commissioned to do one or two songs or to produce artistic works that are not sustainable,” he said.
“Philanthropy institutions need to include the media and artists in the formulation of their programs such that art practitioners can mainstream development work as part of their craft.”
Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) Programs Manager Nigel Nyamutumbu said that the synergies between artists, CSOs and the media must consider the operating environment for journalists and advocacy for strengthening the media for accountability has to be amplified.
“For the media to effectively play its role of holding power accountable, informing society and as a conduit for the enjoyment of free expression, stakeholders in the civic society and artists need to be mobilized to advocate for an improved policy environment for the media,” said Nyamutumbu.
“The media on the other hand must appreciate the concerns of CSOs and capacitated to articulate developmental issues and to amplify the work of artists.”
The APN is running under the theme “Collective freedom from collective struggle” and has among the dignatries top government officials including Arts, Sports and Culture Secretary Nicholas Moyo, veteran film director and producer Daves Guzha and prominent civic society activist Brian Kagoro.