News / National
Zim Journalists urged to refrain from inciting violence
05 Feb 2013 at 16:19hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has called on journalists to refrain from inciting violence and hate speech ahead of the general elections.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its national council meeting on Saturday, ZUJ acting president Michael Chideme said ZUJ will support journalists that wanted to contest the forthcoming elections as long as they desist from inciting violence through hate speech.
"We will support journalists participating in general elections on condition that they observe and adhere to democratic practices and refrain from inciting violence through hate speech," Chideme said.
He said the union would conduct a study designed at addressing gender policies following the high prevalence of gender discrimination and sexual harassment in Zimbabwe's media organisations.
"We will embark on a survey to establish the causes and extent of gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the media organisations. The survey should also address issues of gender policies in newsrooms," said Chideme.
He said ZUJ would put together an all embracing code of conduct that ensured journalists were accountable and the process would involve all media stakeholders.
Chideme urged employers to speed up the formation of a National Employment Council (NEC).
"ZUJ will step up efforts of setting up an NEC for journalists and urge employers to set up a body that will enable collective bargaining to take place, failure of which ZUJ will be left with no option but to pursue the route of a statutory NEC.
"We have also resolved to immediately set up a Safety Fund that will assist journalists and their families in times of need," he said.
Chideme said the union will soon engage various partners that can support training programmes for journalists in the areas of climate change and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) with a view to setting up of special interest networks of reporters.
Meanwhile, Chideme said this year's elective congress would be held on 25 May.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its national council meeting on Saturday, ZUJ acting president Michael Chideme said ZUJ will support journalists that wanted to contest the forthcoming elections as long as they desist from inciting violence through hate speech.
"We will support journalists participating in general elections on condition that they observe and adhere to democratic practices and refrain from inciting violence through hate speech," Chideme said.
He said the union would conduct a study designed at addressing gender policies following the high prevalence of gender discrimination and sexual harassment in Zimbabwe's media organisations.
"We will embark on a survey to establish the causes and extent of gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the media organisations. The survey should also address issues of gender policies in newsrooms," said Chideme.
Chideme urged employers to speed up the formation of a National Employment Council (NEC).
"ZUJ will step up efforts of setting up an NEC for journalists and urge employers to set up a body that will enable collective bargaining to take place, failure of which ZUJ will be left with no option but to pursue the route of a statutory NEC.
"We have also resolved to immediately set up a Safety Fund that will assist journalists and their families in times of need," he said.
Chideme said the union will soon engage various partners that can support training programmes for journalists in the areas of climate change and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) with a view to setting up of special interest networks of reporters.
Meanwhile, Chideme said this year's elective congress would be held on 25 May.
Source - TC
