The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) launched a revised and gender streamlined Code of Conduct for Zimbabwe Media Practitioners (English, Shona, Ndebele and Tonga versions), The VMCZ Annual Report 2014 and a Media Complaints Analysis Report 2014. The launch of the publications took place in Harare on Thursday 29 January 2015. Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Hon. William Dhewa officiated at the launch.
In his opening and welcome remarks, Chairperson of the VMCZ Board, Alec Muchadehama said the reports were a catalogue of events and activities carried out and analysis of media complaints received by the VMCZ in 2014.
Muchadehama told the gathering that the revised and gender streamlined code of conduct launched is sensitive to gender coverage of issues. “We are also launching a gender streamlined and revised code of conduct which is sensitive to gender coverage of issues. The streamlining of the code of conduct is part of recommendations of a gender study conducted in 2013,” said Muchadehama.
The VMCZ Chairperson also highlighted the importance of having the code of conduct translated into indigenous languages saying that,” the code of conduct has been translated into Shona, Ndebele and Tonga languages to enable the broad membership of our society to be able to utilise the VMCZ complaints mechanism.”
Editors and media owners were urged to critically go over the reports as it was a reflection of the state of our media, Muchadehama said “The reports we are launching tonight give a reflection of the state of our media and I challenge editors and media owners to critically go over the reports and reflect on recommendations of the report.”
Speaking at the same occasion Executive Director of the VMCZ Loughty Dube concurred with the Chairperson when he said the translation of the code will enable a wider section of our population to understand the contents of the code. ” The translation of these documents will enable a wider section of our population too understand and appreciate the code of conduct in their own languages,” said Dube.
The Executive Director said he hoped the publications launched are going to ignite debate among editors, journalists and the general public around issues of ethics and media professionalism.
Honorabe William Dhewa who officiated at the function said the launch of the reports by the VMCZ was in pursuit of its mandate of promoting media professionalism, public accountability and ethical conduct in Zimbabwe. In his launch speech, Hon. Dhewa said, ” such work is in the public interest and equally critical as it s key to the building and contributing to the body of knowledge on our media in Zimbabwe.”
The guest of hounour went on to encourage the VMCZ to distribute the publications far and wide. “I hope the VMCZ will distribute these publications far and wide to enable all those with a keen interest in the media to interact and engage constructively around these publications,” said Dhewa.
The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services thanked and encouraged the VMCZ to keep up the good work. “I would like to congratulate the VMCZ and the team that contributed to the publications being launched here for a job well done,” commended Dhewa.
Tapfuma Machakaire who is a board member of the VMCZ and Chair of the Ethics Committee told the gathering that translation of the Code was in fulfillment of the Section Six of the New Constitution of Zimbabwe on the founding provisions on languages which states that sixteen languages are the officially recognized languages of Zimbabwe.
Machakaire said it was the intention of VMCZ to translate the code in to all languages listed in the constitution he said, ” it is our intention, resources permitting to translate the code in all the languages listed in our constitution…this ladies and gentlemen is a clear demonstration that as VMCZ, we cater for Zimbabweans be they from Muzarabani, Tsholotsho, Beitbridge, Chipinge, Dotito, Chirumhanzu, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe or Makoni.” He urged the VMCZ to put into place measures to ensure speedy circulation of the translated code to all corners of the country.
Takura Zhangazha and Faith Ndlovu, Hlwengiwe Dube, Tapfuma Machakaire contributed to research and editing of the publications and a gender consultant Virginia Muwanigwa helped mainstream gender into the Revised VMCZ Code of Conduct.
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