Govt to support unions, employers in addressing welfare of journalists

Bulawayo (New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) should come up with remuneration models that fit the upper middle-income status which the country envisions to attain by 2030, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said this in a speech which chief director in the Ministry, Jonathan Gandari read on his behalf.

He was addressing media practitioners attending a two-day post-election national review meeting in Bulawayo.

“The sector should not be a breeding ground for poor staff members. How can we make sure that media workers do not live below the poverty datum line? Where are we putting our money? In the pockets of cooperates or in the pockets of our workers?,” he asked.

Muswere challenged the media industry to develop business models that enable them to generate revenue and pay competitive salaries to their workers.

“The hard copy industry is slowing down. The question is what are the options for sustainable revenue generation and for the industry to remain on its feet? Without a sustainable Zimbabwe news media plan we may not exist beyond the next decade,” he said.

Turning to the recently held harmonised elections, Muswere commended the media for the professional manner in which it conducted itself, both during the lead up, the actual polling and the period after.

“We are impressed that the government’s call for a responsible media is being exercised and we are all witnesses to that. The Media Pledge which I have had sight of, and which was endorsed by my Ministry, laid the ground rules for all of us to conduct ourselves in a professional manner, abiding by the solemn ethics we all commit to,” he said.

He also commended the Zimbabwe Media Commission and UNESCO for building the capacity of media practitioners through the Elections Reporting and Peace Journalism Manual and the subsequent training of 1 000 journalists.

Muswere applauded law enforcement agencies for ensuring the safety of journalists before, during, and after the harmonized elections, saying that was in line with the policy of the Second Republic of protecting all citizens.

“For the first time in years we have had elections in which journalists have not complained of arrests and restrictions in executing their duties,” he said.

New Ziana