TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The media should play a critical role in the development and advancement of the government’s economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) chairperson, Ruby Magosvongwe has said.
NDS1 is a five-year medium term plan aimed at realising the country’s ambitious goal of becoming an upper middle income country by 2030.
Speaking at an editors’ dinner held last week in Bulawayo, Magosvongwe said Vision 2030 acknowledges the critical role of the media as it plays a catalytic role in rallying our people around national priorities and objectives
It is also within this context that we need to discuss the role of the media in the context of devolution, she said.
“…We hope to build a media industry that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of all Zimbabweans,” Magosvongwe said.
Government requires about US$40bn to fund the ambitious plan.
Consequently, Magosvongwe said it was critical to build partnerships in order to realise the Vision 2030.
“Successful implementation of the programmes and projects in this plan will accelerate the transformation of the economy and bring about the desired economic and social progress for all,” she said.
“With an overall funding requirement of over US$ 40bn, funding the plan is ambitious, requiring the government to build new partnerships with the private sector and development partners to crowd in additional finance. Such collaboration will reduce duplication and overlap allowing for the efficient use of all available resources towards a common goal.”
ZMC is an independent commission and has registered close to 200 media services and over 3 300 journalists.
Most of the functions of the Commission as provided for by the Constitution are governance functions requiring a deep engagement with industry players and with the selection and encouragement of new technologies, if not new investments in media.
