Tag Archives: journalists

Journalists urged to promote Zim as destination of choice

 

Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

Journalists play a critical role in promoting Zimbabwe as a safe destination of choice, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi has said.

Minister Rwodzi revealed this on Monday in Harare, during an interactive media workshop with journalists from local and international media houses.

She stated that her ministry is “an enemy to none”, hence they were going to work with journalists to tell the Zimbabwean story, which will make tourists want to visit “our national heritage.”

Minister Rwodzi also said the country was a heritage which all Zimbabweans were given by God so we should cherish it and promote it.

“As a Ministry of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, we recognize the critical role that media plays in shaping perceptions, disseminating information, driving positive change and highlighting our natural wonders, cultural heritage, as this is instrumental in attracting visitors and investors alike.

“Your role extends beyond reporting; it is about shaping narratives, influencing perceptions, and inspiring confidence in Zimbabwe as a safe, welcoming, and vibrant destination.

“As a Ministry, we are grateful to each member of the media for your tireless efforts in showcasing Zimbabwe’s diverse tourism offerings to the world.

“Your presence here underscores the importance of our dialogue in fostering understanding, transparency, and collaboration,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Tongai Mafidi Mnangagwa

Similar sentiments were also echoed by her Deputy, Tongai Mafidi Mnangagwa, who said such media engagements were critical in creating partnerships which help to drive country’s tourism.

He reiterated that for the country to be marketed as a destination of choice, the media had a critical role to ensure that is achieved by telling the good Zimbabwean story.

“Our ministry is the only ministry which was given the mandate by his Excellency (President Mnangagwa) to sell the country, selling it in a good way. And any company which does sales, has sales representatives or agents whom you send out with the product, and the agents are sitting in front of us.

“It’s you (journalists) who should market the country. But sometimes there is always an issue of sensational reporting, because apparently it pays to write negative things, but be at forefront to market your country.

“Be at the forefront to tell the true story about Zimbabwe. There is so much development in the country; we are under sanctions but look at what we are doing, we are progressing. Those are some of the stories that you need to talk about.

“If I were a King, I was going to Knight all of you, who will go and tell the true Zimbabwean story,” said Minister Mnangagwa.

He also emphasized that journalists should protect their country, as he also echoed President Mnangagwa’s mantra, “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.”

“That is your role, you build the image of the country, you have thousands and millions of followers in your groups, tell the Zimbabwean story, so that we build our country and we move forward.

“It is a benefit for everyone, and as visitors come, the country will also benefit,” added Minister Mnangagwa.

Journalists play critical role in ensuring a healthy nation-Minister Muswere

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA recently in CHINHOYI

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere has said journalists play a critical role in ensuring a healthy nation as they disseminate the much needed information to combat the spread of diseases.
Minister Muswere said the media’s role on the dissemination of information on diseases like HIV and AIDS, cholera and Covid-19 can never underestimated.
He was speaking at a media workshop organised by the National AIDS Council (NAC) in Chinhoyi last week.
The workshop was meant to update the media on the response to HIV and related conditions and also to discuss how the media can contribute towards ending AIDS by 2030.
“Journalists have a role to play in national development, journalists have a role to play in health matters and in nation building because the health of the population defines the past, defines the current circumstances, the challenges, opportunities and the resilience, the dedication and commitment of Zimbabweans.
“The health of the nation also defines the future of our country and journalists have a role to play as we journey towards an upper middle income society by the year 2030,” he said.
He added that he was advised that the country had done extremely well to reduce the HIV prevalence and NAC attributes part of that success to the role of the media in raising awareness, in educating the population of Zimbabwe, in informing the nation of Zimbabwe.
“The role of the journalists, the media in articulating critical issues whether its transmission of HIV and AIDS, or the most important aspect in terms of stigmatization and the same time the role of the media in ensuring that drug provision, in ensuring that we leave no one behind, that all the people in the four corners of our country are knowledgeable on the issues of HIV and AIDS.
“Knowledge is power and education is the key and education is being supported through a deliberate segmented approach in English and other important local languages.
“The media is in a position to articulate with ease the challenges, the behaviours that are expected, the health solutions that are available in our country for us to be able to achieve the success story in terms of the HIV prevalence in our country and Zimbabwe has managed and achieved and score significant gains as we combat epidemics and pandemics in our country.
“All successes stories are attributed to the role of the media, the role of the media teams who have worked with the members of the Fourth Estate,” added Minister Muswere.
Similar sentiments were also echoed by NAC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bernard Madzima in a speech read on his behalf by Amon Mpofu, Monitoring Evaluation Director, who said creating mutual partnerships with the media was important in telling the HIV and AIDS story.
“In convening this workshop, we are convinced that the proper flow of information on HIV and AIDS requires a mutual partnership between the media and ourselves,” he said.
He added that the partnership has led to the sharing of information, accurate and responsible reporting which in-turn contributes to the development agenda as enshrined in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
“Our strong belief in the role of the role of the media which already has been instrumental in improving our response.
“Workshops such as this one compliments our other efforts which include media tours, media awards and our regular dissemination of our diaries to the media,” added Dr Madzima.
NAC Board Member, Tatenda Chipungudzanye, added that journalists can contribute effectively to the national efforts to tame the HIV pandemic through their work.