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Chronicle Reporter
EDITORS heading various media houses in Bulawayo have welcomed the initiative by the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) to set up an investigative journalism fund. VMCZ yesterday launched the investigative journalism fund in the city, with several editors drawn from local media houses in attendance.

VMCZ executive director Loughty Dube and board members Mildred Sandi, Njabulo Ncube, Innocent Kurwa and the organisation’s programmes officer, Faith Ndlovu were also in attendance.

Yesterday’s launch follows similar launches in Harare and Gweru earlier this month. Giving the vote of thanks on behalf of editors at the Bulawayo launch, Sunday News Editor Limukani Ncube said the setting up of the fund was a timeous initiative.

He said the fund comes at a time when most media houses are facing numerous operational challenges mainly to do with funding issues. “The fund comes at a time when the buzz word in most media houses is cost cutting. The environment has not been friendly for media houses most of whom are facing financial challenges. This fund will certainly breathe new life into the industry,” he said.

Under the one-year programme, journalists will be trained on investigative techniques and attached to retired journalists for mentorship. Four retired journalists from Bulawayo have been selected as mentors for local journalists.

Dube said the initiative, which is running on a pilot basis, was aimed at promoting in-depth coverage of news stories and improve the standard of journalism in the country.

“We hope that this initiative will help improve the quality of journalism by capacitating journalists. The fund is a pilot project which if it succeeds will be expanded into a broader programme

“This initiative came about after realising that most newsrooms did not have the capacity to send their reporters out on investigative assignments for two weeks or so. The initiative is aimed at equipping journalists with requisite skills and resources to carry out such assignment and produce quality stories,” said Dube.

As part of the fund, the VMCZ will also hold awards for the overall best investigative journalist.