Story by Justin Mahlahla in St Petersburg, Russia
ZIMBABWE and Russia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding meant to enhance cooperation in the media sector.
Zimbabwe was represented by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, Permanent Secretary, Mr Nick Mangwana, Director of International Relations, Mr Richard Mahomva and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive officer, Ms Adelaide Chikunguru, while Russia was represented by the Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, Bella Cherkesova and officials from Russia Television and Sputnik.
The MOU, signed on the sidelines of the ongoing Second Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, will see Zimbabwe and Russia engage in collaborative productions, exchange of content, news, entertainment and exchange of information on Russia and Zimbabwe.
Speaking soon after the signing ceremony, Minister Mutsvangwa said, “Zimbabwe wants to collaborate and make sure that our media space is opened up to the Russian media, as it is equally opened up for the Zimbabwean media. We have also talked about digitalisation, making sure that all our documents are moved from analogue to digital and the importance of having investors so that we grow our media in Zimbabwe.”
“Training is another issue which we have been talking about. We want to see an exchange programme where journalists come from Zimbabwe to understand how they do their work. Equally, we have invited the Minister and journalists from Russia to visit Zimbabwe. We are very ready to work with RT. We are ready to work with SPUTNIK and this is why you see our CEOs from these sectors are here to make sure that Zimbabweans and Russians know each other,” she added.
Russia Television is interested in starting an information centre in Zimbabwe, with a possibility for technology exchange, media training and education.
Sputnik is engaged in training in more than 50 countries in Africa in a programme called Sputnik Pro, conducted online as well as in person.
There was also a discussion on developing the film school and partnerships in the area of film as well as content exchange for cultural programmes.
More updates from the summit are available on www.summitafrica.ru
