Jonathan Moyo sets up a 22-member Media industry probe committee

Media, Information and Publicity minister Jonathan Moyo on Friday said govt has set up a 22-member inquiry team to probe the Information and Media industry.

Moyo said the team will touch every sector, capture every thought and opinion on how best to reshape the sector towards purposeful ends.

Moyo said: "The ministry has decided to make a case for, and operationalise a major inquiry into the information sector so we begin to do the right things."

"We have set up a whole team which should motivate this inquiry which we hope will be broad-based. A team which we hope will touch every sector, capture every thought and opinion on how best to reshape this strategic sector."

Members of the panel are: veteran journalist Geoff Nyarota (chairperson); Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) events and conferencing general manager Thembe Khumalo (vice-chairperson); Zimbabwe Independent editor Dumisani Muleya; Daily News editor Stanley Gama;
Zimpapers editor-in-chief Pikirai Deketeke; Financial Gazette editor-in-chief Hama Saburi; former NewsDay editor Constantine Chimakure; Chris Chivinge from ZBC, Zimbabwe
Union of Journalists secretary-general Foster Dongozi;
AMH publisher Rita Chinyoka; Chris Chinaka from Reuters; ZiFM chief executive Susan Makore; musicians Plaxedes Wenyika and Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave.

Other members are Daily News chief operating officer Sharon Samushonga; Tsitsi Mabhukucha, Priscilla Munangati; Midlands State University lecturer Nhamo Mhiripiri; Zachary Wazara, Rangu Nyamurundira, Misa-Zimbabwe's Jacqueline Chikakano; and Financial Gazette CEO Jacob Chisese.

Among its terms of reference, the team is expected to inquire into the welfare needs of workers and staffers in the information sector, assess and determine the policy, legal, technological, business, human resource, editorial and institutional adequacy and readiness in the information sector, among others.