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August 2010 Public Seminar overview: The role of the media in nation building
Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI)
September 02, 2010

Speakers:

1. Mr. Henry Muradzikwa: Commissioner, Zimbabwe Media Commission

2. Mr. Njabulo Ncube: Vice-Chairman, MISA-Zimbabwe

3. Mr. Chakanyuka Bosha: National Coordinator, Zimbabwe Union of Journalists

As has become the practice and in line with its desire to promote public dialogue, the Mass Public Opinion Institute hosted its monthly public seminar series for August 2010 at the New Ambassador Hotel in Harare on the 2nd of September 2010. The seminar which had initially been slated for the 26th of August was deferred by a week to the 2nd of September 2010 because of reasons beyond the Institute’s control. The seminar topic was, “The Role of the Media in Nation Building”. Four speakers had originally been invited but only three turned up after the Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Murisi Zwizwai withdrew citing circumstances beyond his power. Nevertheless, the three speakers who turned up for the event gave very comprehensive and interesting speeches. On the minus side, the seminar attendance figure was comparatively low with only about 50 people attending the seminar.

The invited speakers gave their different understandings of what nation building is and how the mass media in its different forms can contribute to this process. The first speaker at this seminar was Mr. Njabulo Ncube. According to Mr. Ncube, nation building in Zimbabwe refers to the reconstruction of a house called Zimbabwe that is currently in a crumbling state. Zimbabwe is currently polarized and needs re-building. He pointed out that the media can play a key role in this rebuilding due to its functions of agenda setting, political mobilization, and employment creation among other roles. He bemoaned the current situation where the media is being used to put a border between the Government of National Unity partners, for example, the electronic media is doing this by playing one-sided political jingles. Thus the media is being used to destroy through perpetuation of divisions. He then proposed the licensing of more newspapers, radio and television stations as the remedy to the current problems bedeviling the media. The speaker concluded by saying that nation-building will remain a pipe-dream if the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is not appointed since it is the organization responsible for licensing potential private broadcast media players. He also called for political tolerance and the repealing of repressive legislation if the media is to play any significant role in nation-building. The National Coordinator of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, Mr. Chakanyuka Bosha was the second speaker to the podium. He defined nation-building as a process of restructuring society. He saw it as enhancing the capacity of both state and non-state actors in dealing with issues of the nation. He mentioned that the media is the fourth arm (estate) of government and should work hand in glove with the other three arms for the nation’s good. For example, in dealing with the judiciary, the media should be there to safeguard judicial independence and celebrate justice. In its relationship with the Executive, the media should be on the alert and report facts as they are, exposing scandals and glorifying good deeds. When it comes to the legislature, an alert media should make a follow up on legislators so that they are reminded of fulfilling their electoral promises. According to Bosha, the media in Zimbabwe has a tendency to protect those in government, for example, only two Ministers have resigned after being named and shamed for their deeds in Zimbabwe since independence, although corruption is known to be rampant among government officials in Zimbabwe. He said the media should ideally be a ‘sniffer dog” when it comes to corruption. The media should also refrain from using hate language as this does not contribute to nation-building. It should also safeguard the culture of Zimbabweans adhering to proper media ethics, for example doing away with any images that suggest pornography. Mr. Bosha was in agreement with the first speaker that the media in Zimbabwe is polarized; denialist and divisionist. He recommended that the media should not get stuck in the conflict mode; rather it should play its role of eye and ear and conveyer belt of our society. Only then can it play a meaningful role in our society.

The third and final speaker (Commissioner Henry Muradzikwa from the Zimbabwe Media Commission) was in agreement with the other two speakers on what nation building is and the role that the media should play to ensure that the environment is conducive for this exercise. He however, differed slightly from the other two speakers in that he did not focus on the media in its collectivity but rather on the role of the journalist as an individual. Mr. Muradzikwa defined nation building as the process of organizing society. To him, social organization is core to national organization.

Mr. Muradzikwa noted that a good journalist is one who reaches out to the people and is able to communicate with them because nation-building can only be done in partnership with the masses, who unfortunately are often sidelined in the process. A good journalist is thus someone who ensures that there is continuous dialogue between himself and the “povo” that he represents. He/she collects news from all and about all and does not terrorize intellectually, but uses simple language for effective communication. A good journalist also insists on getting facts as they are and not speculation. He pointed out that there is no point in having brilliant journalists when the editors are not equally brilliant. The speaker recommended that an editor should also have interest in truths and facts and should be principled and possess personal integrity. Only then can the journalist and editor work together as a formidable team towards nation-building.

Commissioner Muradzikwa ended by observing that the difference between the private and public media is becoming blurred as far as facts are concerned. There are devils in both the private and public media and there is room for improvement in both spheres.

The presentations were followed by a lively discussion in which participants sought clarification from the speakers and aired their own views on the subject matter. Despite the unusual low attendance figure, the seminar was on the whole a success and informative, offering a platform for the participants and the panel of speakers to exchange ideas on what they believe is the role of the media in nation building. In terms of upcoming public seminar related activities, the Institute will host a public seminar in the eastern border town of Mutare on the 28th of September at a venue yet to be decided whereas for Harare, the next public seminar is scheduled for the 30th of September 2010 at the New Ambassador Hotel.

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