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Masvingo-The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has called on journalists to strengthen their public interest role by leading sustained coverage on child protection, gender-based violence and drug abuse as part of deepening collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
Addressing a MISA media and police engagement meeting held on December 16 at Masvingo Central Police Station, MISA Board Trustee, Cris Chinaka, challenged journalists to launch deliberate campaigns on protection of children and intensify regular reporting on gender-based violence.
“I think we could do a lot more around protection of children. That is an area of interest to the police, but also to the public and that protection includes sometimes children who are brought out onto the street for begging purposes. I think we should be launching a campaign as media to ensure that the law does not admit that those kids should be on the street, they should be in schools or playing and being allowed to play as kids,” said Chinaka.
He urged members of the media fraternity to vigorously report on gender-based violence, noting that many serious crimes, including murder cases highlighted by police, often originate within households and could be prevented through early public awareness and sustained attention.
On drug and substance abuse Chinaka said there is a greater need to provide information that helps affected individuals access assistance and rehabilitation services as media coverage often focuses on arrests and drug peddlers.
“I know we do carry regular reports on drug abuse, but the most useful element is getting assistance for those who get hooked.
“So other than blowing our whistles around the peddlers, the barons and the baroness around them, we should be appointing people, serving people with information that helps them to after getting affected,” continued Chinaka.
He said that media should focus on such issues that supports police efforts while encouraging society to confront harmful behaviours at family and community levels.
The annual MISA engagement meeting which brings together journalists and police as stakeholders to review existing cooperation frameworks aimed at strengthening media, police relations in the public interest was attended by Assistant Commissioner, Felistas Musvipa, national and provincial police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi and Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa respectively as well as MISA national chairperson, Passmore Kuzipa.
