By Andrew Zhou
Masvingo – The National AIDS Council (NAC) of Zimbabwe recently took a proactive step toward strengthening responsible journalism by hosting a one-and-a-half-day workshop for journalists in Masvingo Province.
The event, held on September 19 and 20, 2025, at Glenlivet Hotel, brought together representatives from twelve media houses across the province.
The workshop was aimed at enhancing their capacity for sustainable and positive reporting on gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment, and HIV-related issues.
Through interactive sessions, local journalists were equipped with up-to-date knowledge, ethical guidelines, and inclusive terminology to improve coverage of sensitive social issues affecting communities nationwide.
Speaking during the session, NAC Masvingo Acting Provincial Manager Munyengetero Masunga emphasized the media’s vital role in shaping public opinion and influencing behavioral change through responsible reporting.
“Journalists are powerful partners in the fight against HIV and gender-based violence. Accurate, sensitive, and stigma-free reporting can encourage survivors to seek support, challenge harmful cultural norms, and inform the public about life-saving services,” said Masunga.
The workshop featured expert presentations from a range of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services; the Ministry of Health and Child Care; the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Victim Friendly Unit (VFU); Musasa Project; Zimbabwe Association of Church-related Hospitals (ZACH); and the SASA Project.
ZACH Programs Officer Precious Kahungwa stressed the importance of avoiding sensationalism, victim-blaming, or justifying violence when reporting on domestic violence and sexual harassment. She outlined the legal framework for addressing GBV and highlighted the need for survivor-centered reporting.
“Stories must highlight the root causes of GBV such as gender inequality and harmful gender norms rather than merely focusing on the incidents themselves. Misinformed reporting can re-traumatize survivors or even compromise investigations. Journalists need to balance the public’s right to know with respect for survivors’ dignity and confidentiality,” said Kahungwa.
A key part of the workshop involved introducing participants to evolving terminology related to HIV and GBV. Trainers emphasized that outdated or stigmatizing language can perpetuate discrimination and misinformation.
Masvingo Provincial Information Officer Rodgers Irimayi urged journalists to take their learnings back to their newsrooms and champion ethical and sensitive reporting on GBV and HIV.
“The way stories are told can either perpetuate harm or inspire positive change. We are counting on you to be the voice of reason and responsibility. I encourage you to implement what you have learned here, giving GBV and HIV survivors a voice through helpful reporting,” said Irimayi.
Participants welcomed the workshop, noting that it would enhance their professionalism and the quality of information shared with the public and pledged to apply the knowledge gained.
The workshop concluded with a collective commitment from participating media houses to adopt guidelines on survivor-sensitive reporting and to work closely with stakeholders like NAC and Musasa Project in raising awareness about GBV, sexual harassment, and HIV.
The initiative underscores NAC’s ongoing mission to foster a supportive environment where communities, government, and the media work hand-in-hand to combat gender-based violence and HIV-related stigma across Zimbabwe.
By investing in journalists’ skills and knowledge, the council hopes to ensure media coverage drives informed dialogue, supports survivors, and promotes healthier, more equitable communities.
