The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) on Tuesday launched a Zimbabwean media practitioners’ Code of Conduct translated into the Tonga language.
The translation of the Code of Conduct is in recognition of Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution, which emphasises the equal promotion of the country’s official 16 languages.
Launching the Tonga Code of Conduct, VMCZ Media Ethics Committee Chairperson Tapfuma Machakaire said; “The launch of the Tonga Code of Conduct is part of the VMCZ initiative to increase public awareness of the (media) code of conduct in indigenous (languages) as enshrined in the country’s constitution.
“It is our hope that through this Tonga Code of Conduct, local communities are conscientised of the complaints mechanism and the existence of the code of conduct such that they hold the media accountable for their actions,” said Machakaire
VMCZ Executive Director Loughty Dube said the launch was historic.
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“It is historic in the sense that people in Binga can now play a role in professionalising journalism by approaching the VMCZ if they are aggrieved by a media story.
“It is also our hope that the code broadens access to information within local communities consequently promoting media diversity and pluralism.”
While receiving the Tonga Code of Conduct, Tinde village Head Eveline Masuku said the Tonga Code empowers the people of Tonga-speaking people of Binga to effectively play the watchdog role on Zimbabwean media.
“Now the people of Binga have been empowered with a voice to air their concerns if they are not happy with a media story unlike before,” she said.
This is third indigenous Code of Conduct being launched by VMCZ following the Shona and Ndebele codes launched previously.