Harare (New Ziana) –The Zimbabwe government is committed to continue opening up the media space to allow more players as part of efforts to satisfy the different tastes of citizens across the country, a cabinet Minister has said.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said this after touring NRTV offices in the capital on Thursday.
He said the government was not bureaucratic but was flexible to readjust and allow more players as it thrived to satisfy the needs of its citizens.
“The new dispensation does not thrive on bureaucracy, so it adjusts and readjusts to the needs and expectations of the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Muswere applauded authorities at NRTV for their gender sensitive recruitment policy, which has seen the workforce being made up of 60 percent women.
He implored other media institutions, most of whom are male dominated, to emulate the organisation.
The government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been on a drive to open up the broadcasting sector since it got into office in 2017.
Since its inception, fourteen community radio stations have been granted licenses while six commercial television stations were also licensed to start broadcasting.
The government has also recorded remarkable progress in reforming the media sector, particular its decision to amend the controversial Access to Information and Protection and Privacy Act (AIPPA).
The Zimbabwe Media Practitioners Bill will be another game changer as it will go a long way in promoting freedom of expression, freedom of access to information when passed into law.
NRTV began broadcasting early this year, becoming the fourth Zimbabwean television station to operate on MultiChoice’s direct broadcasting satellite service, DSTV, along with ZBC TV, ZTV Prime and 3Ktv.
Other television stations that have been licensed include Kumba, Channel D and Keyona.
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