Telecel and ZUJ partner to improve media coverage of ICTs

Telecel Zimbabwe PR, CSR and Sponsorship Manager, Francis Chimanda

TELECEL Zimbabwe and The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) have entered into a partnership which seeks to strengthen journalists’ capacity and understanding of business and Information Communication Technology (ICT) issues.

Under the training partnership, supported by Telecel Zimbabwe, with US$25 000, ICTs, business and financial experts will train journalists around the country on reporting on the subjects.
Some of the objectives of the partnerships include building the capacity of journalists in reporting ICTs and business and to raise awareness amongst citizens on the importance of ICTs through increased in-depth coverage.

The partnership will have a social responsibility component conducted by the training participants and Telecel Zimbabwe in areas where coaching will be done.

The training programs will be conducted for journalists in Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Bulawayo and the Midlands provinces in the last quarter of 2015.

Telecel Zimbabwe has, in the past supported, ICTs training workshops in other provinces including Harare, Manicaland and Mashonaland East.

ZUJ Secretary General Foster Dongozi commended Telecel Zimbabwe for contributing towards the dissemination of quality information and supporting corporate social responsibility by journalists. He said by providing an opportunity for journalists to specialise in thematic areas of coverage such as ICTs and Business, the company was ensuring that the media remained “informed, knowledgeable and relevant in today’s intricately complex environment”.

“Such knowledge would improve the reporting capabilities on the sectors which would go a long way in contributing to the development of our economy,” said Dongozi.

Telecel Zimbabwe PR, CSR and Sponsorship Manager, Francis Chimanda, shared the same sentiment, saying effective media engagements by the business sector were essential in improving communities and their appreciation of critical issues affecting their lives.

“This is not the first time that ZUJ and Telecel Zimbabwe have partnered in promoting professional journalism in the country. In the past, the two organisations have joined hands and held several workshops aimed at building a better equipped media with improved working knowledge of ICTs,” he said.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Telecel Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer, Angeline Vere, said she was happy with her organisation’s partnership with ZUJ, saying the mobile telecommunication company had also been “active supporters of the ZUJ NationalJournalism and Media Awards (Njama) ceremony”.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank ZUJ and the media particularly those who cover our sector, ICTs, for their work which helps shed light and tell the story of our exciting, competitive and often complex industry. Without you, the media, it would be nearly impossible for us to get people to appreciate the ICT industry, its products and the services we offer,” she said.
“Telecel for its part will continue to remain open to the media and try to provide factual information that is of interest and value to your audiences while at the same time ensuring that the true position is represented in reports about the company and the media, Vera said.