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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Senior Reporter

Zimbabwe, under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, has made significant strides in the past three years to open up the media sector and make the work of journalists freer, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

She was speaking at a World Press Freedom Day conference organised by the Media Institute of Southern Africa in Harare today.

The day is commemorated every year on May 3 to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and this year’s theme was “Information as a Public Good”.

Minister Mutsvangwa said this year’s theme was a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good, and exploring what could be done in the production, distribution and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment, while leaving no one behind.

“May 3 acts as a reminder of the need to respect commitment to press freedom,” she said. “It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. We also take a hard look at the structural support that is needed for the media to continue to do their work.

“These three, among other related functions, lay the foundation for continuous work towards bettering the media environment so that the media continue to play a positive role in society and help in the development and democratisation of the country.”