Parliamentarians bemoan limited rural media coverage

PARLIAMENTARIANS from Mashonaland West have bemoaned limited rural media coverage saying this contributes to stunted growth in the areas. Speaking at World Press Freedom Day commemorations in Chinhoyi yesterday, Norton Member of the House of Assembly Mr Edward Musumbu said media coverage was restricted to urban areas. 
"A worrying trend is that media coverage is restricted to urban areas with little or no coverage of rural areas and their issues.  
"This has the effect of leaving people in the rural areas out of the development matrix as their issues get no or limited attention by relevant stakeholders," he said. 
Makonde MP Cde Ray Kapesa said there was need to reflect on the operational environment for journalists. 
"The welfare of journalists should be looked at seriously on the occasion of their celebrating World Press Freedom Day. There is need for reforms that ensure a better working environment for journalists," he said.