Professionalisation of the media industry should address issues of knowledge, skills and ethics in the
media industry by media practitioners, managers and owners as we believe that good journalism is that
which is accountable to the public.
The recognition of self-regulatory mechanisms such as epitomised by the Voluntary Media Council of
Zimbabwe (VMCZ), will increase its effectiveness in promoting media professionalism and ethics. In
addition, professionalisation should look at issues of safety and security of journalists as well as improving
the working conditions of media practitioners.
v Broadcasting/Telecommunications/ICTs
The advent of Zimbabwe’s new constitution with particular reference to Section 61 sub-sections 3 and 4, if
followed to the letter, offers immense opportunity for a reformed broadcasting sector especially where it
pertains to the transformation of the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), into a truly
independent public broadcaster.
In terms of Section 61 which guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of the media, sub-section 3
(b) states that broadcasting and other electronic media of communication should be independent of control
by government or by political or commercial interests.
It further stipulates under sub-section 4 that all state-owned media of communications must:
a) be free to determine independently the editorial content of their broadcasts or other
communications
b) be impartial and
c) afford fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions.
These yet to be implemented guarantees are at the root of the problems besetting the bankrupt ZBC and
the vulgar $40 000 monthly salary, perks and allowances earned by its currently suspended chief executive
officer Happison Muchechetere while workers went for months without salaries.
While the new minister of information has been applauded for dissolving the ZBC board and suspension of
its CEO, the problems besetting the corporation can easily be attributed to its governance and
management structure.
As the forensic audit of ZBC gets underway, the minister who is on record saying the government will
comply with section 61 as well as section 62 which guarantees the right to access to information, should
now shed light on steps being taken to comply with the provisions in question.
The current governance structure is a naked breach of the afore-mentioned constitutional provision on
media freedom not to mention the African Charter on Broadcasting. This has left the corporation exposed to
political interference as the minister appoints the board, issues regulations/directions to the board and
management.

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