31 Jul 2026

Zimbabwe has taken a major step
towards improving the quality and accuracy of climate change reporting
by beginning the validation of a national Climate Change Reporting
Manual aimed at equipping journalists with the skills to report on one
of the country's most pressing development challenges.
Opening the validation workshop in Harare on Thursday, Permanent
Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services Nick Mangwana said climate change had become a defining
national development issue affecting agriculture, food security, water
resources, public health, biodiversity, infrastructure and livelihoods.
"The media occupies a strategic position in this national endeavour,"
Mangwana said in a speech read on his behalf by George Chisoko, Director
(Media Services) in the same ministry. "Journalists are not merely
reporters of events; they are educators, agenda setters and trusted
sources of public information."
The draft manual, developed by the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) in
collaboration with government ministries, climate scientists, media
professionals, academics and development partners, seeks to strengthen
climate journalism by providing practical guidance on climate science,
policy, governance, disaster risk reduction, investigative reporting,
ethics and fact-checking.
The initiative comes as Zimbabwe grapples with increasingly frequent
droughts, floods, cyclones, prolonged heatwaves and erratic rainfall
patterns that scientists attribute to climate change. The country has
suffered devastating disasters in recent years, including Cyclone Idai
in 2019, while recurring El Niño-induced droughts have reduced crop
production, threatened water supplies and increased food insecurity
across many rural districts.
Officials say the manual aims to bridge the gap between scientific
research and public communication by helping journalists produce
accurate, evidence-based and solution-oriented reporting that informs
citizens, counters misinformation and supports Zimbabwe's climate
resilience agenda and Vision 2030 development goals.
Mangwana said the Government remained committed to implementing the
National Climate Policy, the National Adaptation Plan and other
climate-responsive programmes that promote climate-smart agriculture,
renewable energy, ecosystem restoration and disaster preparedness.
He urged journalists to move beyond reporting disasters and instead
explain the science behind climate change, examine policy responses and
highlight practical solutions being implemented by communities across
Zimbabwe.
"As Government, we believe that climate journalism should not only
report challenges but also showcase solutions," Mangwana said, pointing
to growing investments in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy
projects, water harvesting technologies and ecosystem restoration
initiatives.
Zimbabwe Media Commission Executive Secretary, Godwin Phiri said the
manual would serve as a practical resource for journalists, editors,
trainers and media institutions seeking to improve climate literacy and
professional reporting standards.
"The media plays a vital role in shaping public understanding of climate
change. Through accurate, balanced and responsible reporting,
journalists help citizens understand the causes and impacts of climate
change, inform public debate, amplify community voices and support
evidence-based decision-making," he said.
Phiri said the validation workshop would critically review the draft
manual, identify knowledge gaps, incorporate expert recommendations and
build consensus before the document is adopted as Zimbabwe's national
reference guide for climate reporting.
He said strengthening partnerships among government, academia, civil
society, development partners and media organisations would be essential
to improving public communication on climate issues.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change and the Paris Agreement and has committed to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening adaptation through its
Nationally Determined Contributions. Experts say achieving those goals
will require informed public participation, placing the media at the
centre of communicating both the risks of climate change and the
opportunities presented by sustainable development.
New Ziana