The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) is one of the oldest unions in Southern Africa, and fosters a united voice among journalists that secures, upholds, advocates and defends professionalism, labour rights and press freedom
ZUJ comprises of a National Council, National Executive Committee and the Secretariat. National Council is the governing body of the Union and develops/gives direction to the activities, organisation and management of the affairs of the Union. The National Executive Committee oversees the implementation of the decisions of the National Council through the Union Secretariat. The Secretariat conducts the day-to-day running of the Union's affairs.
ZUJ is a member of Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), Southern Africa Journalists Association (SAJA) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).Besides, ZUJ also belongs to various other non-governmental organisation networks which include the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ), the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) and Zimbabwe Election Support Network.
ZUJ has over 35 years’ experience with local partnerships in the Zimbabwe’s media sector. This includes advocating and lobbying various sectors of society including parliament, line government ministries and state security agencies on the essence of free journalistic practice. It has been involved in various programing to cater for and build the professional capacity of its members. This includes strategizing around effective mainstreaming of gender policies into both the union and media organizations’ operations; exploring training and employment challenges faced by journalists with disabilities, portrayal of people with disabilities in the media and offering training opportunities for journalists in various thematic areas such as poverty, health, ICTs as well as electoral and governance issues.
The Union also hosts the National Journalism and Media Awards (Njama), which is an annual event, whose spirit is to help create healthy competition among journalists by promoting excellent journalism. This in line with ZUJ’s overriding ambition to help create an atmosphere in which unity and solidarity among journalists in the country becomes reality and professional commitment not just empty talk.
Organisation Structure
National Council
The National Council is the governing body of the Union and develops/gives direction to the activities, organisation and management of the affairs of the Union.
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee oversees the implementation of the decisions of the National Council through the Union Secretariat.
Secretariat
The Secretariat conducts the day-to-day running of the Union’s affairs