AI in focus as Zimbabwe Media Policy is unveiled

President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched the Zimbabwe Media Policy on Wednesday, a landmark framework aimed at guiding the country's media industry through the rapidly changing global information environment while promoting the spread of factual, ethical, and patriotic content that reflects Zimbabwe's values and development goals.

The launch took place at State House in Harare, where the President described the policy as a timely and necessary response to the profound transformations in the media sector driven by emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI). He noted that AI has reshaped how information is gathered, analyzed, produced, and disseminated, increasing the speed and reach of journalism but also presenting new challenges and opportunities.

"I am honoured to officiate at this occasion marking the launch of the Zimbabwe Media Policy. The policy comes at a time when the media sector is undergoing unprecedented transformation due to emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence," President Mnangagwa said.

The President emphasized that the media must play a central role in nation-building by telling an authentic Zimbabwean story both locally and internationally, free from fear or favour. He assured citizens that the government is committed to guaranteeing access to factual, verified, and reliable information, underpinned by the philosophy, "Nyika inovakwa, igotongwa, igonamatirwa nevene vayo," which highlights the importance of deploying information within the context of Zimbabwe's rich history and culture.

The new media policy addresses several critical issues including market dominance, data privacy, user rights, and protection against exploitative digital practices to ensure a fair and inclusive media environment. President Mnangagwa also highlighted the strategic importance of both public and private media in advancing Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 development blueprint, urging the media to be responsible and vigilant as they inform and influence socio-economic progress.

He further challenged media practitioners to move away from divisive narratives and to promote peace, unity, and patriotism. The President condemned past trends where media content sought to demonize the country, emphasizing that such content has no place in the Zimbabwe for which citizens fought.

"The past trend where media practitioners competed to demonise our country has no place in the Zimbabwe we fought for. We must write to show that we are ourselves, not to please those who are not us," President Mnangagwa said.

Recognizing the impact of Artificial Intelligence on journalism, the President acknowledged the opportunities it presents for enhancing content production and dissemination but also cautioned against the challenges it poses to facts, ethics, diversity, and cultural plurality. He affirmed that the government's regulatory efforts will focus on content and platform accountability and support for Zimbabwe's independent content ecosystem.

As the Zimbabwe Media Policy comes into effect, media stakeholders across the country are expected to align with its principles of truthful reporting, ethical journalism, national unity, and development-focused communication. The policy aims to ensure that Zimbabwe's media sector remains a cornerstone of peace, harmony, and patriotism while contributing to the country's overall growth and prosperity.