The media has been urged to play a key role in nation-building through positive reporting on developmental programmes taking place in the country, a Government official has said.
The Government is scaling up development programmes in infrastructure, food security and economic recovery under the National Development Strategy 1, while the United Nations has begun the implementation of a five-year new Zimbabwe-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2022-2026) to support national development efforts.
Officially opening the UN media workshop on development reporting in Mutare yesterday, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland, Nokuthula Matsikinyere, said Government was committed to deepening cooperation in the implementation of projects under the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals.
"As Government, we are committed to gender equality, youth empowerment, promoting peace, and inclusive economic progress to create the enabling environment for inclusive development -- thereby leaving no one behind," she said.
"It is important to note that Chimanimani and Chipinge, continue to recover from the impact of Cyclone Idai. As a province, we are so grateful for the timely intervention of our Government and the role played by UN agencies as our key development partners during and in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai."
Minister Matsikinyere expressed gratitude for the establishment of Runyararo settlement, a new site at the former Westend Farm to resettle people who were displaced by Cyclone Idai.
"Government-UN co-operation has been amply demonstrated in Manicaland," she said. "In the Education Sector through UNICEF, the province has benefitted a lot from education materials and funding to some of our schools affected by Cyclone Idai.
"Most of our districts in the province are also benefitting from food subsidy through the World Food Programme facility."
Manicaland has suffered from cyclone induced droughts, which has resulted in poor yields.
The UN collaborated with Government through the Department of Social Welfare to ensure that food reach deserving beneficiaries in all the districts.
Minister Matsikinyere applauded the UN for working with Government and resourcing health institutions in Manicaland to combat Covid-19.
She also appreciated the media for their role during Cyclone Idai emergency with mass messaging, which resulted in overwhelming national and international response.
"The media also played key role in informing communities on Covid-19 prevention," she said. "This awareness enabled us as a province to curb the spread and achieve a downturn in the figures.
"It is my wish that the media will continue playing key roles in nation building, positive reporting on pertinent issues taking place in the province, and keep the public informed of all developmental programmes the Government and its development partners will be undertaking."
UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator, Mr Edward Kallon, commended the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services for its commitment to ensuring that the media plays its rightful role in the country's development and social transformation.
"The United Nations Development System in Zimbabwe supports the existence of a strong media that provides accurate, timely and objective reporting on development, recovery, and humanitarian issues," he said.
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"Equally important, the media with specific reference to the collective entity of newsprint, electronic and web-based, plays a very important role in national development, which involves advancement in political, economic, social, and cultural rights and the well-being of people.
"The UN is cognisant that the media represents the tool for shaping public opinion in the promotion of common good: inclusive and sustainable development, democracy, good governance and human rights, and facilitates nation-building and the advancement high quality of life," he said.
Mr Kallon applauded Government for allowing numerous channels of information, including community radios, which if fully used, could help transform communities.
