Police, media strengthen relations
SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the media in Manicaland Province met this week to strengthen relations as the parties pledged to work together for mutual benefit.
The meeting between the media and the law enforcement agency was organised by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe and other media-related organisations such as Media Alliance of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists.
Speaking at the meeting, police chief for Manicaland Province, Priscilla Makotore said that police’s work was made simpler with a media that appreciates its work and cooperates for mutual benefit.
“I would say in Manicaland; we have not had many challenges with the media. We have a great working relationship though here and there we have areas that we need to improve on.
“At the local radio station we have slots that we do as police to raise awareness on issues such as drug abuse among other topical issues that we come across on a daily basis and we have succeeded. It is my hope that such a close working partnership could be taken further,” Makotore said.
Police’s national spokesperson, assistant commissioner, Paul Nyathi said the media engagement in Manicaland was part of efforts to improve media and police interfacing to curb accusations of the latter harassing journalists during their line of work.
“As police we have plans of holding quarterly meetings with the media representatives across the country as we forge forward and improve working relations between the police and the media,” Nyathi said.
The MISA Zimbabwe board member, and veteran journalist Cris Chinaka applauded the good working relationship of the media in Manicaland which he said was not as sour as in other regions so far visited setting up the engagement platforms.
“We need to continue with such a working partnership as we draw closer to the harmonised elections and beyond,” Chinaka said.
The media has often accused the police of harassing them in the line of duty and arbitrary arrests and forcing reporters to delete their content.
