BY STAFF REPORTER
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister, Monica Mutsvangwa has pronounced that the government will ensure that the safety and press freedom of journalists will be prioritised ahead of the upcoming 2023 elections.
Mutsvangwa made the pronouncement at the United Nations Regional workshop on freedom of expression and safety of journalists held in Victoria Falls on Friday, amid a promise that those found violating the rights of journalists shall be prosecuted.
She added that Zimbabwe has taken deliberate steps to create a free and safe media environment for journalists and media workers to carry out their professional duties.
” The steps to create a conducive environment were taken because of the need and vision to strengthen peace, democracy and sustainable development by the Second Republic,” she told the delegates drawn from African regions.
“In thinking specifically on a plan on the Safety of Journalists the Government was guided by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) framework that places prevention, protection, and prosecution as key pillars.”
She said her ministry values stakeholders’ collaboration and discussions such as the civic Society in media who have a role to play in the improvement of the media space.
” Together with you we brained, stormed, agreed and disagreed on a number of pertinent areas that needed to be changed. We both agreed that journalists and media workers would not be safe in a setting of polarization and we needed to find each other.
” Our plan with you recognized that our coalition needed to be-based on a holistic approach.”
She said a number of media laws have been put in place by the government to safeguard the safety and security of journalists in the conduct of their duties, particularly during the upcoming elections,but called on journalists to report objectively and avoid disinformation.
“This therefore means we should come up with news articles that inform and educate the nation on the election cycle before, during and after the harmonised elections slated for August this year.”