….as Govt equips the national broadcaster ahead of elections

Staff Reporter

Journalists need to be equipped in the discharge of their duty and further capacitated with skills training ahead of this year’s Harmonised General elections, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

Handing over vehicles purchased by the Government for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) in Harare yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa said it was of utmost importance that journalists were well-equipped so that they carry out their work without any hindrances.

“Journalists need to be equipped in the discharge of their duty and further capacitated with skills training ahead of this year’s harmonised general elections. It is important to note that our employees are our greatest asset and their needs and expectations can therefore not be ignored. Workers whose needs are well provided for, deliver better. And we expect nothing less for employees at ZBC. As elections draw closer, we look forward to seeing the best ever coverage from the national broadcaster from all corners of the country,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Minister Mutsvangwa further implored the country’s media fraternity to work towards propagating issues of national interest urging them to inform people on the strides being made by the Second Republic in addressing the people’s plight.

“The transformation of Zimbabwe into an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income society by 2030 hinges largely on a responsible and objective media that puts the national interest above everything else. We are going for elections this year, it is important to give rightful and factual information so that when people go for elections they are in a position of knowledge because information is power and it is our role as the national broadcaster to inform and build the image of Zimbabwe through publicity,” said the Minister.

Minister Mutsvangwa added that the media had a duty to publicise the achievements made by the Second Republic in turning around the fortunes of the country. She said that the country’s economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), places the Ministry and its agencies as enablers for economic development programmes for the whole Government.