civil society organisations and other key stakeholders should intensify efforts to prevent and
eliminate violence against women and girls, both offline and online.
•
Journalists should always strive for balance and fairness in their reportage and stories.
In that regard, media professionalism is the first line of defence for journalists, as it is at the
heart of media credibility and integrity.
•
Revisit provisions of the Cyber and Data Protection Act that impact freedom of
expression and media freedom, such as the ones on the transmission of false data messages.
False news offences promote self-censorship and unjustifiably infringe on freedom of
expression, media freedom, and citizens’ right to access information for informed choices
and decisions.
•
Escalate awareness of the Freedom of Information Act through public broadcasters
and community radio stations to ensure citizens are aware of the law and utilise it to enjoy
their right to access information.
•
Increased competition in the internet services and telecommunications industry is
needed to lower the cost structures of internet services in the country. Regulation of the
Internet itself should be guided by the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms
which provides for the Internet as a human right.
•
Media development in Zimbabwe should drift towards an ecosystem approach to
strengthen the entire ecosystem for viable and sustainable media in the age of information
disorders. In addition, media support should consider the media as a critical stakeholder in
attending to issues of changing climate patterns, conflict, development, and consolidating
the societal needs of the nation rather than a tool for deceiving information for various
stakeholders.

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Select target paragraph3