The appointment of Makonde legislator, Kindness Paradza as the Deputy Minister of Information has been welcomed as a positive development in the media industry.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday appointed Paradza, a former journalist and publisher, as Energy Mutodi’s replacement at the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe director Tabani Moyo told NewZimbabwe.com that Paradza discharged himself well when he was with the Parliamentary portfolio committee on information and broadcasting services. Said Moyo:
One thing we would want to note as MISA is that Hon. Paradza discharged himself well when he was with the Parliamentary portfolio committee on information and broadcasting services in pushing for the reform of AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection to Privacy Act) and regulation of the media.
You will remember his fierce debates in parliament pertaining to the need for democratic regulation of the media and the need to unbundle the ZMC (Zimbabwe Media Commission) and the Media Practitioners Bill.
The Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF) coordinator Njabulo Ncube said he hopes Paradza will see to it that media reforms are carried out before the end of the current parliament as he understands media problems.
Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) chairperson Vivian Zhangazha said the media looks forward to working with Paradza.