Story by Lisa Masuku
JOURNALISTS from various media houses converged in Bulawayo this Monday to deliberate on draft documents to guide them in their reportage on the Gukurahundi Outreach Programme.
The media has come up with three draft documents which include the Gukurahundi Reporting Guide, Code of Conduct Pledge and Consent Form.
To ensure there is no malice and further perpetuation of hurt during the Gukurahundi Outreach Programme, a technical committee comprising media stakeholders from various stables has been given the task to come up with the draft documents.
“To ensure there is no artificial unity, we agreed to have a framework that will guide us as media in covering the outreach programmes,” said Gukurahundi Media Technical Committee Member, Albert Chekayi.
Journalists made further submissions to ensure the media promotes national healing and unity.
“We must not hurt people in our reportage as journalists when covering the Gukurahundi outreach programmes,” said a journalist.
In line with international standards, the media also has a duty to provide accurate and essential information to empower survivors and encourage public discussion.
The Zimbabwe Media Commission executive secretary Godwin Phiri said, “There has to be commonality of thought and consensus on how to cover to Gukurahundi outreach programme.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has empowered chiefs to lead the Gukurahundi Outreach Programme for national healing, unity and development after the early 1980 disturbances which affected Matabeleland and parts of Midlands province.
