CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU: Media practitioners operating in Gweru have come together to revive their press club, an initiative designed to give opinion leaders space to share ideas with journalists on ways to develop local communities.
The Gweru Press Club housed at Gweru Sports Club comes into effect following a memorandum of understanding between the media practitioners and the sports club executives with a view to cement growth in the City of Progress.
Gweru Press Club executive member, Norman Dururu said the initiative is set to change the way people do business in Gweru as it proffers a platform for exchange of ideas amongst the community leaders with media practitioners getting a chance to pose critical questions to authorities without undue influence.
“We are very excited for achieving this milestone. Several influential people used to have problems in terms of hosting journalists in exchanging ideas on their programmes. Today we have a real home to host the who is who of society.
“This is a platform for exchange of ideas in the Habermas public sphere concept. Let’s embrace it and support it as well. Gweru will never be the same again,” Dururu said.
Gweru sport club chairperson John Makuwalo says they have decided to partner with the Gweru Press Club with a view to amplify the need for community participation in issues of national development.
“It’s indeed a great milestone in the history of our city of progress. What you witness today is a great initiative between two critical institutions who have Gweru at heart. We have seen an upsurge in drug and substance abuse in our communities.
“We believe journalists have a critical role in fighting this scourge. As such them being part of the sport club means issues of sports become paramount. Their voice will help in promoting sport which deals with such a vice,” Makwalo said.
Meanwhile, the revival of the Gweru Press Club comes at a time when the Second Republic is ceased with reforming media laws and policies in line with international best practices with a view to improve the media operating environment in the country.
