Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding has urged journalists to use their platforms to build understanding rather than division, warning that sensational narratives and “weaponised misinformation” risk poisoning public trust.
Speaking at the 2024–25 National Journalism and Media Awards in Harare, Ambassador Zhou commended Zimbabwean media for their dedication to truth, while calling for deeper reflection on how stories about nations and people are framed.
“When narratives are weaponised, truth becomes the first casualty,” he said, adding that both China and Zimbabwe have suffered from “misunderstanding and scapegoating” in global media spaces.
The NJAMAs, organised annually by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, celebrate excellence and ethics in reporting. This year’s ceremony was attended by Information Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, diplomats, and journalists from across the country.
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Zhou cautioned against disinformation that fuels xenophobia and prejudice—sentiments painfully familiar to many Zimbabweans working abroad. From South Africa to Europe and the United States, migrants often endure discrimination, hate crimes, and exclusionary policies that mirror the same stereotypes some local narratives project onto foreign communities at home.
He called on journalists to “choose light over shadow, truth over rumour, and partnership over prejudice,” emphasising that media must “inform rather than inflame.”
The Ambassador’s address comes as Zimbabwe has seen a rising wave of anti-Chinese sentiment but conversely at national level there is deepening cooperation between the two countries across agriculture, education, energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
Ambassador Zhou reiterated that constructive criticism is welcome, but malicious lies erode the friendship and obscure shared progress.
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