Zimpapers signs MOU with Gender Links

In a landmark development, the Zimbabwe Newspapers (Zimpapers) group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Gender Links (GL). This MOU is an indication of commitment and buy-in into the Centres of Excellence (COEs) for gender in the media project. Zimpapers group is the largest print media group in Zimbabwe with eleven publications. This includes the Namibia based Southern Times. The main objective of the COE project is to mainstream gender in media house practice and editorial content.

Zimpapers signed the MOU at a gender policy inception workshop facilitated by Gender Links. Ten editors attended the workshop together with the Sunday News gender reporter. Herald Editor William Chikoto signed the MOU on behalf of group editor in chief, Pikirayi Deketeke. This MOU will see Zimpapers going through the ten-stage COE process. The editors started drafting a gender policy for the group, which covers human resources, production, marketing and advertising and editorial. It is hoped that the gender policy will address the gender gaps in the media. The Glass ceiling study in Southern African Newsrooms revealed that women make up 12% of those in management at Zimpapers. Editors expressed a willingness to work to change the situation at Zimpapers.

A major outcome of this workshop was the selection of a task team to coordinate and oversee the COE process. The team is coordinated by William Chikoto.