'Era of polarisation over,' say Prof Moyo

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has called on media practitioners to depart from the era of polarisation which characterised the last decade and chart a new era of finding each other nationally and internationally.

He was speaking at the offices of the international news agency, Reuters, in Harare Wednesday afternoon.

Professor Moyo said Zimbabwe has no prejudice against foreigners, but only speaks out against those with a negative bias against the country.

He called for professionalism among media practitioners saying they should not allow politics to divide them and urged local and foreign media houses to be given equal access to cover state events.

He said the media should be self-regulatory and guard against those bent on deliberately distorting information, adding that bringing in law enforcement authorities and the Prosecutor-General should be undesirable if practitioners observe professionalism.

Professor Moyo, who was accompanied by his deputy, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, was briefed on the operations of the foreign news agency and said the government of Zimbabwe welcomes the opportunity presented by the news agency to spread the message and story of Zimbabwe to more than one billion people across the world who consume Reuters' products.

Minister Moyo welcomed the operations of the Reuters agency in the country saying its objectives of business and economic news gathering are in tandem with government's thrust of economic development through the ZIM ASSET blueprint.

Deputy Minister Mandiwanzira welcomed the participation of locals in the news organisation saying it is an empowerment opportunity for local media practitioners.

The gulf in technology, resources and experience between international media organisations and the third world media has resulted in information flowing in one direction from the north to the south, disadvantaging developing countries.