News / Local
'Mnangagwa this, Grace Mugabe that' will not help us
22 Oct 2015 at 11:27hrs | Views
BULAWAYO Residents have blasted the media for failing to cover developmental issues, focusing more on politics and political figures sidelining economic and developmental issues that affect day to day lives of citizens.
In an interview at a meeting organised by Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) secretary for administration Anglistone Sibanda, said there is a need for coverage of developmental initiatives and their outcomes in the media.
"A Few papers are covering developmental issues, if you look at most newspapers you find stories 'Mnangagwa does this! Grace does that!', but there are farmers out there who are in the business of breeding pigs, who need marketing," says Sibanda.
He said these are economic issues that ensure that members of the public take part in developmental programmes seriously.
A Bulawayo resident, Pedro Dladla echoed Sibanda's sentiments saying the media hardly follows up potential developmental stories.
"Our media does not follow up developing issues that are published for example is that of the poisoning of elephants in Hwange, after the criminals were prosecuted the story just ended there," said Dladla who is also a BPRA committee member.
He said those who were prosecuted are seemingly 'pawns' in the whole incident, therefore the need to investigate and follow up thoroughly.
BPRA Pumula South ward chairperson Crispen Ndlovu said the media was misleading residents.
"You realise that you have to buy at least four different newspapers to understand a similar issue covered by different newspapers," said Ndlovu.
In an interview at a meeting organised by Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) secretary for administration Anglistone Sibanda, said there is a need for coverage of developmental initiatives and their outcomes in the media.
"A Few papers are covering developmental issues, if you look at most newspapers you find stories 'Mnangagwa does this! Grace does that!', but there are farmers out there who are in the business of breeding pigs, who need marketing," says Sibanda.
He said these are economic issues that ensure that members of the public take part in developmental programmes seriously.
A Bulawayo resident, Pedro Dladla echoed Sibanda's sentiments saying the media hardly follows up potential developmental stories.
"Our media does not follow up developing issues that are published for example is that of the poisoning of elephants in Hwange, after the criminals were prosecuted the story just ended there," said Dladla who is also a BPRA committee member.
He said those who were prosecuted are seemingly 'pawns' in the whole incident, therefore the need to investigate and follow up thoroughly.
BPRA Pumula South ward chairperson Crispen Ndlovu said the media was misleading residents.
"You realise that you have to buy at least four different newspapers to understand a similar issue covered by different newspapers," said Ndlovu.
Source - VMC
