By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has issued a stern warning against harmful media content, emphasizing that the Zimbabwean government will not tolerate material that undermines national unity or infringes on individual rights.
The warning came during the launch of the country’s new Media and Communication Policy at State House on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event, Mnangagwa stressed the importance of balancing freedom of expression with responsible journalism.
“Content that harms our country and fellow citizens has no space in our constitutional democracy. The law and justice system will take its course on all those who infringe on the rights of others on media platforms,” he said.
The President urged media practitioners and all Zimbabweans to be guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu/Hunhu, which promotes community values, dignity, and mutual respect. He highlighted that these principles should inspire a media culture rooted in ethics and integrity.
Mnangagwa described the new media policy as a critical step toward ensuring that media freedom is exercised responsibly, supporting national development, social cohesion, and the preservation of cultural identity.
“This policy is an important cog that must help realize an intricate balance between freedom of expression and the need for content and platform accountability,” he stated.
He praised the media sector’s role in national progress, noting its contributions to mobilizing resources, fostering innovation, and attracting investment as Zimbabwe aims to become an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“I challenge the media fraternity, along with other stakeholders, to scale up our ongoing quest to shape a positive image of our motherland, Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa added.
The President also highlighted government efforts to democratize the media space, including the licensing of 14 community radio stations to promote Zimbabwe’s heritage and identity.
“Zimbabweans are the custodians of their own stories and narratives. As we implement the Media Policy, let us reclaim and correct the deconstruction and distortion of our story. A truthful, coherent and positive story of Zimbabwe will consolidate our national peace, unity and accelerate our development,” he said.
Mnangagwa further called on the media to help present an authentic image of Zimbabwe to the world, from the perspective of Zimbabweans themselves.