Government calls for journalism that connects people to policies
Zimbabwe's Information Minister Zhemu Soda has urged journalists to move beyond reporting event proceedings and instead focus on explaining how government industrial policies impact ordinary citizens. The call precedes the Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo 2026, which aims to promote regional value chains and economic growth.
Why it matters
This highlights the government's attempt to shape media narratives around economic development and industrialization in Zimbabwe.
HARARE, Jul. 22 (NewsDay Live) - Information minister Zhemu Soda has called on journalists to help translate industrial policy discussions into stories that connect ordinary Zimbabweans to the government's economic transformation agenda.
The call came ahead of tomorrow's official opening of the inaugural Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo 2026 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Addressing a media briefing in Harare this Wednesday, Soda urged media practitioners to unpack the substance of conference discussions rather than simply report proceedings.
"Let your coverage unpack the substance behind the discussions. Explain how value addition creates jobs and demonstrate how beneficiation increases national wealth. Showcase how industrial innovation improves productivity and competitiveness. You are also required to highlight the opportunities emerging from regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Tell the story of how Zimbabwe is positioning itself as a competitive industrial economy," he said.
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