The ManicaPost
Ray Bande in NYANGA
THE country’s new political dispensation has achieved more than it initially pledged and the remaining challenges are only a matter of time before they are solved, a senior Government official has said.
In his keynote address during a three-day capacity building workshop for Government communication and advocacy officers currently running in Nyanga, Public Services Commission Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said it is the duty of Government communication and advocacy officers to articulate achievements made under the New Political Dispensation.
“What was not there is now there, even some things that were not promised have been done. The New Dispensation has accomplished so many things. The construction of highways such as the Chirundu-Beitbridge Highway is evidence of what the New Dispensation has achieved.
“President Mnangagwa cannot be everywhere to explain what Government has achieved in a short space of time, but we are the ones to articulate that as Government communication and advocacy officers. There are a lot of mischief makers who are trying to paint a gloomy picture, especially on the internet and social media, but it is our (communication and advocacy officers) role to explain this to the public,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
He urged the communication and advocacy officers to go out of their way to listen and understand challenges in their different ministries and departments in order to effectively find solutions and respond for public good.
“President Mnangagwa made it clear from the onset that he is a listening President. This means that the New Dispensation under his leadership listens and then responds in fulfilling the communication process. The response at times comes from us as communication or advocacy officers. The important part of that matrix is that we have to listen and listening is important. If you do not listen to where the problem is coming from, you end up giving wrong solutions,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
The workshop was held under the theme: “Many voices, one Government – Building the image of Zimbabwe through communication and advocacy:”
Several prominent resource persons in the communications sector, among them Deputy Chief Secretary Presidential Communications in the Office of the President, Mr George Charamba and Permanent Secretary in the Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Ministry, Mr Nick Mangwana made presentations.
Part of the programme included lessons on how to communicate for Government, what it means to communicate on behalf of Government as well as how to unpack NDS1.
The workshop ends tomorrow (Friday).
