By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Harare – In a keynote address this morning, His Excellency Mr Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, underscored the critical role of Zimbabwe’s media in accelerating national progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He announced plans to forge tighter collaboration with journalists, citing fact-based reporting and accountability as cornerstones of sustainable development.
“The media has been instrumental in advancing awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals . . . Through reporting, analysis, and investigative work . . . you have amplified the issues that matter and the voices working for transformation,” Ambassador Kallon said.
Key Proposals for Media Collaboration
Mr. Kallon introduced several proposals aimed at formalizing UN–media cooperation, including:
The establishment of a UN–Media liaison mechanism which would institutionalize briefings, beat-specific roundtables, and editorial engagement to share verified data, early warning information, and programme results.
Capacity building for “development and data journalism,” to deepen reporters’ skills in translating technical reports, climate science, public finance, and social protection policies into stories people understand.
A protocol for rapid collaboration in crisis situations and fighting misinformation—particularly relevant given trends of disinformation on digital platforms, especially during emergencies.
Why This Matters
Zimbabwe is now in the mid‑point of the UN’s 2022‑2026 Cooperation Framework, a plan that sets ambitious targets under the four pillars: People, Planet, Prosperity, and Peace.
The UN has reported spending US$524 million in development results for 2022, especially on programs targeting communities usually left furthest behind—including persons with disabilities, migrants, rural farmers and youth.
In this context, Mr. Kallon emphasized that the media’s watchdog and narrative-setting roles are not a luxury, but an essential component of progress.
“Prioritize SDG‑focused journalism,” he urged. “Make development reporting a regular editorial priority—investigate progress, bottlenecks, financing, governance and service delivery . . .”
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