Publicise Zim-Asset progress: Mushohwe Minister Mushohwe
Minister Mushowe

Minister Mushohwe

Bulawayo Bureau
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe has implored ministries to appoint trained officers to publicise strides made in the implementation of Zim-Asset.

Minister Mushohwe expressed concern over poor coverage of Zim-Asset programmes by the media, saying ministries were failing to locate areas and activities of importance, resulting in the blueprint being under-reported.

He was addressing hundreds of delegates who are attending the on-going Zim-Asset Bulawayo Stakeholders Engagement conference at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) yesterday.

The two-day conference, running under the theme, “Consolidating Bulawayo’s growth through Zim-Asset”, saw ministers delivering presentations and explaining how the city is benefiting from Zim-Asset programmes.

“The biggest challenge we face comes by way of ministries which still are unable to locate areas and activities of publicity. To that extent, the good progress done in Zim-Asset often goes unknown within the Government and thus goes unreported or under-reported.

“The ideal situation is for us to have trained officers seconded to ministries so all publishable activities are highlighted,” said the minister.

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He emphasised the need for each ministry to appoint officers for co-ordination within the ministry to improve publicity on Zim-Asset.

He said it was important for both the print and electronic media to publicise the two-day event and demystify Zim-Asset.

“We should also budget for a backlash from our detractors who want to see Zim-Asset failing. Even where positive strides have been made, there will be those who will continue to be in denial.

“Negative publicity will continue to spew against the programme, but we shall also make sure that we intensify our own publicity campaign efforts,” said Minister Mushohwe.

The projects, he added, shall be able to tell their own story if they are given visibility in the media.

Minister Mushohwe said the area which has presented the greatest challenge in terms of publicity was the food security and nutritional sector.

“There is a general misconception that a year that aborts agriculturally because of the elements, in this case El-Nino, spells doom for Zim-Asset. On this matter, we have had to change publicity tact, namely to emphasise on our platforms efforts by the First Lady Amai Dr Grace Mugabe and the two Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko on resuscitating irrigation projects.

“We’ve also had to emphasise on food distribution to the needy as well as gearing ourselves to publicising child supplementary feeding, which the concerned ministries are soon to launch,” he said.

On infrastructure and utilities, Minister Mushohwe said the country’s emphasis has been on the Bulawayo-Mutare highway, the various energy projects, broadcast infrastructure, rehabilitation of schools and other amenities.

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