NOT satisfied with merely regurgitating information handouts from car manufacturers and dealers, motoring journalists in Zimbabwe are pushing for the formation of their own association on the same lines as the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists to, among other things, foster professional standards in motoring journalism.
STAFF REPORTER
An inaugural meeting was held in Harare recently at which journalists resolved to establish the association and seek appropriate affiliation to other professional journalism bodies such as the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ).
Journalists noted that it was unfortunate that new vehicle launches in Zimbabwe were merely occasions where journalists were handed prepared statements to publish without being given the opportunity to test-drive the vehicles to ascertain the quality and performance claims of manufacturers.
In neighbouring South Africa, any new vehicle launch is routinely accompanied by a comprehensive programme where motoring journalists are given the opportunity to test-drive the vehicles under different driving conditions.
Recently, General Motors, Sub-Saharan Africa, launched the sixth generation Isuzu KB by inviting a select group of motoring journalists to sample the new vehicle at the Thornybush Game Park, Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Province.
“When writing about the suitability of this vehicle to the local market, the journalists do so having personally experienced its capability first-hand,” Desmond Kumbuka, one of the drivers of the new association, said.
It was proposed the new association would be called Motoring Writers’ Association of Zimbabwe (MWAZ).
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It is also intended to include vehicle distributors and motor industry dealers as corporate or associate members.
Once fully established, the association intends, among other projects, to pioneer a Car of the Year award for Zimbabwe tailored on the same lines as that of South Africa.
An interim committee comprising Andrew Muzamhindo of MediaCom, Kumbuka from Alpha Media Holdings, Stanley Makombe representing the Zimpapers stable and Wilbert Rukato of Motor Trader, was tasked with drawing up a constitution of the new association and ensuring its registration and compliance with necessary regulatory procedures.
