ZUJ to host SADC summit on climate reporting

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, ZUJ, will this week host a Southern Africa regional summit on climate change reporting in Harare.

The union said it is being held in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, the largest global federation of journalists in the world which represents more than 600 000 journalists in 139 countries.

Another partner is the Southern Africa Journalists Association, SAJA, a regional grouping of unions and associations of journalists in SADC.

 ZUJ Secretary General, Foster Dongozi said the summit was being supported by The Union to Union Project with funding from trade unions from Sweden, including the Swedish Union of Journalists.

"The media in Southern Africa should play a very critical and leading role in producing correct and well researched media products for our communities and governments," he said.

Dongozi said Southern African economies, like the rest of Africa are generally based on agriculture which is sensitive to climate change.

"That is why ZUJ has played a leading role in ensuring that journalists in Zimbabwe and the region are better equipped to effectively tell the story on climate change and its effects on Southern Africa, including how it can be reversed and the opportunities that arise ," said Dongozi.

Journalists from six SADC countries including Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are participating in the regional summit.