journalists pose for a group photo with Salim Siam, the Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Palestine in Zimbabwe (pic by Munyaradzi Munaro)
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
A group of Southern African journalists recently completed a two-day training course on the Palestinian issue, in a move aimed at fostering informative reporting on the ongoing Israeli war.
The training which was organized by the Zimbabwe Palestine Newsroom Connect and the Palestinian Media Forum, was held in person in Harare and virtually, by journalists from Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.
Doctor Habib Omar, PR at Palestine Media Forum, lectured on the Israeli Colonialism and the Palestinian Struggle: Past, Present, and Future.
The training covered topics such as the historical background, the Jewish Problem and the rise of Zionism, dismantling the Zionist narrative/propaganda, Israeli Wars expansion, Palestinian and Arab resistance among others.
Dr Omar said it was important for journalists to write from an informed point of view, to understand how the conflict started and how it has been ongoing.
He added that journalists had to challenge the propaganda narrative being pushed by Israel and to report accurately.
Salim Siam addressing the journalists
Salim Siam, the Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Palestine in Zimbabwe, describe the sessions as informative, adding that they would improve the way Southern African journalists report on the issue.
“It’s a great opportunity that you have given to our journalists here, to give them an insight into the Palestinian struggle, the occupation of Palestine by the colonial rule which Palestine has been subjected to more than 100 years.
“That is the most important thing to get the insight so that when you (journalists) write in the future, you will be writing in the view from your understanding of this conflict from the beginning,” said Siam.
He added that as journalists are writing on the Palestinian issue, they are writing on the struggle for nationhood, independence.
Journalist Thabani Dube who gave a vote of thanks on behalf of his colleagues, said the training would improve their reportage on the Palestinian Issue.
He said whilst they had been writing about the ongoing conflict for some time, the training would improve on their knowledge because of the well-structured lecture.
