MEDIA regulatory organisations have called for cordial relations between the police and the media sector as political momentum builds ahead of this year’s harmonised elections.
Senior police officers met journalists in Bulawayo last Wednesday where discussions on improving relations were held and the two entities attempted to iron out existing challenges and share ideas on how to best serve the country.
Speaking at the engagement, which was organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) in partnership with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe at ZRP Ross Camp, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said media and police engagements were crucial in ensuring that factual and relevant information reached the public in time. He said there were some bad elements that were deliberately making efforts to spoil relations between the media and police in order to sow seeds of divisions.
“The media plays a key role in the development of any country. You are the link between several institutions, police included and the public. Everything that the police do for the community is disseminated through the media. The issue of information management and constructive engagement with media is a critical area which can make or break an organisation, be it in the public or private sphere, and as the police we are not an exception. As the media you create reality for readers and viewers, and in the process the formulation of opinions about organisations and social events take place. And more so, with the advent of social media and its challenges, that means the police and the media must continuously find each other.
“As we go into 2023 harmonised elections, the media and police must remain professional. But we are also aware that there are people who will try to misrepresent facts in order to antagonise the relationship between the police and the media. However, we know and are assured that with such engagements between the police and the media, we will be able to find each other. If we do well, feel free to applaud us, but if we fail in any way, be free to criticize and engage with us,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi commended the media in Bulawayo for supporting the fight against drugs and substance abuse in the city which is led by the officer commanding Bulawayo Province, Commissioner Patson Nyabadza.
“We applaud the media for supporting the efforts of the police in Bulawayo in the fight against drug abuse. It is a fact that currently we are facing a challenge of substance and drug abuse which has affected many youths and adults, and we need the support of the media in this. The Government is doing various activities, and the police are doing various activities. The officer commanding Bulawayo Province has got teams on the ground, please support him as his teams move around conducting raids, effect arrests and conduct awareness campaigns,” he said.
Meanwhile, the secretary-general of ZUJ and Media Alliance of Zimbabwe chairperson, Perfect Hlongwane said continuous engagements with the police helped in strides towards the development of the country.
He said there was a need for the police and media engagement to tame social media which had seen many people throwing media ethics through the window in the quest of being first with the news.
“We think that in the 21st century there is no need for us to view each other as enemies. We are partners in the development of the country as the media and the police. And the thrust and trajectory that we are taking is that we want to engage, even before we publicise things on social media.” – Sunday News
