THE media plays a critical role in facilitating the administration of justice by fostering public debate on issues affecting communities, legal experts have said ahead of the first ever Zimbabwe Legal Media Awards.
They urged the media to promote equality among women, children and people living with disabilities, among other positives.
Prominent lawyer Jessie Majome said the media plays a critical role of raising awareness and facilitating public debate on issues affecting communities.
“Correct knowledge and awareness spread by the media empowers citizens, including the vulnerable groups such as children and women,” Majome said.
“Media improves access to justice by clarifying the law and legal matters and brings to life a practical, useful way that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.”
Another lawyer Clever Mandizvidza described the role of the media as priceless.
The media has the duty to identify, prepare and report on information that shapes society and also give direction to how the public observes its environment in any sphere of life. The information must be shared in a clear and easily accessible way,” Mandizvidza said.
Midlands State University lecturer in the Department of Media, Communication Film and Theatre Arts, AbeI Dzobo, weighed in saying the media does well by highlighting legal issues affecting citizens and communities.
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“Some laws are not in line with the Constitution making it very difficult even to interpret when covering rulings or broader issues such as the recent evictions and or threats of evictions countrywide,” Dzobo said in written response.
He said journalists must be trained to understand different areas of the law, including child laws, parliamentary reporting, human rights, women’s rights and environmental rights, among others.
Dzobo is the chairperson of the adjudication committee for the upcoming inaugural Zimbabwe Legal Media Awards co-ordinated by Treasure Media.
Sixteen categories including women, child rights, inheritance and people living with disabilities, court, traditional and customary law, sports and environment make up the awards.
