UN Coordinator Calls for Media Engagement in Accelerating Zimbabwe’s Development Agenda

By Staff Reporter

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; His Excellency Mr. Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, H.E Mr. Edward Kallon has pointed out the role of media as integral to giving birth to a new nation during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Media Indaba today.

While addressing media professionals and stakeholders, Mr. Kallon made a point of saying that prior training of the journalists and other segments of the media industry is the backbone of the whole thing which makes possible Zimbabwe’s industrialization and therefore the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr. Kallon congratulated the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, especially Permanent Secretary Mr. Nick Mangwana, for being the conduit through whom the UN and the Zimbabwean media have been colluded with. He confirmed the United Nations’ help for a media setup that could produce objective and objective reporting on developmental and humanitarian issues.
“The media is a key player in public opinion formation, democracy, good governance, and human rights and in bringing about social change and inclusive development,” said Mr. Kallon.

He also admitted the wide range of information sources accessible to Zimbabweans today, such as print, electronic, and web-based media, and reminded the people of the responsible use of these resources to accelerate national development.

The media has a significant role to play and the various activities the two media organizations have been collaborating on include the enactment of media laws, skill development, and public awareness.

Mr. Kallon pointed out that the implementation of the Broadcasting Services Act, Freedom of Information Act, and Data Privacy Act as well as the Ghanaian Parliament and other Sudanese organizations supported by UNESCO and the UN was the launching of the plans to free the media and the public.

Such other than the meetings there have been periodic seminars on the media, journalist training, and their involvement in achieving a set of the 17 specific SDGs namely SDG16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

In the time of fast-growing digital technologies, media experts are given possibilities by the UN through digital channels, with the main emphasis on gender equality and inclusivity in national talks.

Mr. Kallon underscored the media’s pivotal role in employing communication to dispel myths in the pandemic outbreaks like the COVID-19 virus and to shed light on the climate change issue with the help of timely and accurate reporting.

It was from such a standpoint that they were also charged to be the sufferers’ voices and also sources of reliable information that could ignite the discussion of the problems of development and inspire their solution.

“Ensuring that the public dialogue is not only maintained but also reinforced is a mean for the people to get through to the essence of what is going on, in particular in the remote areas, commented Mr. Kallon.

Mr. Kallon also confirmed the alliance of the UN with Zimbabwean media in a bid to accelerate the 2030 Agenda and the nation’s development goals as well as guarantee sustainable and eco-friendly economic growth.

He urged for unbiased and professional ways of reporting to ensure the freedom of the media is in line with responsibility.
The third ZITF Media Indaba argued that one of the major reasons why the media has the potential to change Zimbabwe is that it can help the country get a solid future, a resilient society, and be more inclusive.