INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister Monica Mutsvangwa has implored women to share and explore ideas that help build a better Zimbabwe.
She pointed out that women should not shy away from participating when opportunities arise.
The minister shared her insights during the International Women’s Day commemorations, which were marked this week on March 8.
In a speech read on her behalf by Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services director for strategic policy planning, monitoring and evaluation Dr Nanette Silukhuni at a conference, which ran under the theme “Lift Me Up” that was organised by Alpha Media Holdings’ broadcasting division, Heart & Soul TV and Zimbabwe Independent in the capital, Mutsvangwa said the perseverance and willingness of Zimbabwean women to build their country would see them succeed.
“My message to all of us women today on this occasion is, let us pursue excellent journalism that fuels a healthy and thriving information ecosystem. Let us provide news so as to improve citizens access to relevant information, in the process enabling our target audience to be the change makers in their communities,” she said.
“Let us stand together as women to support one another, build each other and believe in one another. Let us not shy away from opportunities and let’s share knowledge and explore ideas that help build a better Zimbabwe.”
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Mutsvangwa was happy that the conference’s theme resonated with this year’s theme for the United Nations’ International Women’s Day DigiALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.
She added that the participation of women in the digital space could not be over emphasised.
While access and usage of digital technologies have the potential to empower women, she said the benefits of digital transformation were not equally balanced between societal groups.
Mutsvangwa said there was a need to proffer strong narratives on how women can advance their inclusion in the digital space as the gender divide had remained glaring.
“Whilst some hindrances to the digital divide may have been as a result of amongst other issues, access, affordability, technological illiteracy, social and cultural norms, I am happy to say that as the second republic, we have gone all out to liberalise the media environment, thereby widening the digital space,” she said.
“Digital broadcasting has taken centre stage and as the mouth piece of government, we stand to reassure you that this is in line with best practice. For the record we have licensed six free to air television stations.
“Clearly the growth of new television stations is a very effective way to bridge the digital divide as my ministry has been on a drive to bring digital terrestrial transmission to previously marginalised communities, a case in point being Binga,” Mutsvangwa said.