INFORMATION minister Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday said government was ready to finalise a media policy which would pave way for media pluralism and introduction of diverse media platforms.
Speaking at the Information ministry’s strategic planning meeting with different media stakeholders, which also discussed the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (Maz) media strategy for Zimbabwe, Mutsvangwa said they were finalising the media policy that would guide law-making processes.
“One of the strategic pillars will be to seek partnerships in the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. Through our Content Creation department, there shall be investment in supporting new media start-ups and development of a content policy that will set the framework for the Zimbabwean media to be competitive,” Mutsvangwa said.
Maz programmes manager Nigel Nyamutumbu said: “Our participation in this process was meant to assert our position on what the ministry needs to focus on from our lenses and from our advocacy blueprint. In doing so, there is need to acknowledge changes that have been witnessed; particularly around the unbundling of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the new television and community broadcasting stations licensed.”
Nyamutumbu added: “The channels of expression must not be captured by a few elite, but should be open to many people. Further, there should be an environment conducive for investment into the media sector. It is on the basis of this submission that the Information minister pledged support for new media, a promise we are waiting in the wings to hold them accountable on.”
