Zimbabwean journalists urged to form self-regulatory body

Zimbabwean journalists have been urged to come up with a self-regulatory media commission to ensure fair and professional conduct and safeguard the national interest, The Sunday Mail reported.

The call was made by the Acting Minister of Information and Publicity, Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, when he addressed local scribes on the topic "Journalism, Privilege and National Interest. "

The minister said he had no problems with local journalists coming up with a workable self-regulatory body along the lines of other professionals such as lawyers, doctors, accountants and engineers who have set rules and standards about the conduct of their members and are able to discipline those found flouting laid- down provisions.

Mangwana said the government was willing to discuss and repeal particular sections of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) that were prohibiting journalistic freedom. However, that freedom had to come with responsibility and fair play, the minister said. He also challenged journalists to come up with a National Employment Council adding that the present remuneration of journalists was pathetic describing some of the media personnel as near paupers.

He said a lot of local journalists were presently abusing journalistic privileges and queried why some independent media had editorial policies in which they only reported on the negatives without a single positive story.

He said patriotism and the need to protect the national interest should guide the press.

Source: Xinhua