HIGHER and Tertiary Education deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa has urged trainee journalists to shun bribery, strive to remain professional and contribute towards nation building.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO Speaking at a graduation ceremony for trainee journalists at the Christian College of Southern Africa (CCOSA) in Harare last Saturday, Gandawa said corruption had destroyed the trustworthiness of journalism.
“Now, therefore, today we have over 100 graduates who are graduating in journalism among other courses. CCOSA has always been known for producing journalists. Are you producing the right calibre of journalist?” Gandawa asked.
“I know most industries are going through a rough patch, but the storm will soon be over. Though unorthodox practitioners may say ethics do not pay rent, I urge you to shun the brown envelope kind of journalism, avoid brown bottle kind and execute your duties professionally”.
He said bad journalism tarnished the image of the country.
“Journalists’ performance has a great bearing on how Zimbabwe is perceived by the world. We need journalists who protect our nation irrespective of our differences.
“You graduate today (Saturday) during a crucial period in the history of Zimbabwe due to economic hardships caused by the western countries who always want to exploit our resources and rebuilding Zimbabwe will require a sustained commitment from all stakeholders including the media,” he said.
