By Richard Shumba

Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) commissioner Munyaradzi Hwengwere has called on African countries to take greater ownership of their narratives and ensure their stories are told from their own perspectives, arguing that storytellers remain central to development and nation-building.

Speaking to this publication, Hwengwere, who has worked in the media industry since 1994, said that storytellers play a critical role in shaping societies by asking important questions, inspiring communities, and helping define national identities.

“I am a storyteller. I am a media person. I’ve been in the media since 1994. The belief has always been the same. Africa has relegated storytellers to the periphery of development, yet it is storytellers who dream, ask questions and inspire people,” Hwengwere said.

He said African countries needed to take a more deliberate approach to telling their own stories and ensuring that the continent’s realities were presented accurately.

“We must work as Africa to ensure that the stories we want to tell about our countries are heard and are not caricatures of underdevelopment and related issues,” he said.

Hwengwere said storytelling should be recognized as an important component of development, adding that the media had a responsibility to help shape positive and balanced narratives about African societies.

The veteran broadcaster and media strategist said his work in the media sector had always been guided by a belief that communication and storytelling could meaningfully contribute to national development.

“Serving on a Chapter 12 institution such as the Zimbabwe Media Commission is an honor to the country. Even though I am one of many, I will take my own brick and be a player in nation-building and in telling the story of Zimbabwe,” said Hwengwere.

The Zimbabwe Media Commission is one of Zimbabwe’s independent constitutional commissions established under Chapter 12 of the Constitution.

The commission is mandated to promote freedom of expression and media freedom, encourage professionalism and ethical standards in the media industry, and support the development of a diverse and independent media landscape.

Hwengwere brings more than three decades of experience in journalism, broadcasting and strategic communications to the commission.

Over the years, he has built a reputation as a media practitioner and communications strategist with a strong interest in issues relating to African identity, storytelling and development.

His remarks come at a time when media organisations across the continent are adapting to rapid technological changes, the growth of digital platforms and shifting patterns of news consumption.

The increasing influence of digital media has created new opportunities for African storytellers to reach wider audiences while also presenting challenges around representation, misinformation and competition from global media platforms.

Hwengwere said Africa should use these opportunities to strengthen its own voice and ensure that stories about the continent are told by Africans themselves.

He said storytellers had a responsibility not only to document events but also to help communities understand themselves and their aspirations.

“I am excited. I will take my own brick and be a player in nation-building and in telling the story of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Hwengwere’s comments are likely to resonate within media circles where discussions around African-centered storytelling, media development and the role of journalism in national development continue to gain prominence.

His views also reflect broader conversations across the continent about how African countries can shape their own narratives in an increasingly interconnected global media environment.