Be professional – ZRP tells Journalists

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has urged journalists to adhere to ethics in their professional reporting.
In a meeting organized by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Bulawayo on Tuesday, 9 March, Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province Commissioner Patton Mbangwa urged media houses to continue embracing ethics especially in investigative stories.

Commissioner Mbangwa made the call in Zimbabwe’s City of Kings, as part of efforts to improve professional working relations between the police and the media.

“I urge all media houses to continue embracing ethics of investigative journalism and maintaining active communication with the police to achieve national objectives of sustainable development, peace and harmony,” he said.

Commissioner Mbangwa emphasized on the reason to work together with the media.

“Our involvement with the media is derived from the fact that we want to engage widely so that we will be able to provide the best service to the public.”

Speaking during the same meeting, MISA Zimbabwe Board Member, Pamenus Tuso, stressed the importance of police and journalists working harmoniously, especially during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are not reinventing the wheel. These interactions between the media and the police are meant to improve the working relations between the two parties especially (during) this time of the COVID-19 induced challenges.

Similar engagement meetings with the police have been organised by MISA Zimbabwe in Kwekwe, Masvingo and Mutare with the aim of maintaining the good relationship between the ZRP and the Forth Estate.