Zimbabwe, Malaysia Near Media Cooperation Agreement

By Southerton Business Times Reporter | Kuala Lumpur

Zimbabwe and Malaysia are in the final stages of negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on media cooperation, a development expected to strengthen collaboration in broadcasting, digital transformation, journalism and professional skills development between the two countries.

Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana said negotiations on the proposed agreement were at an advanced stage, with most of the provisions already agreed upon. Mangwana made the remarks during an official visit to the News and Current Affairs Division of Media Prima Berhad, one of Malaysia's largest integrated media organisations.

MoU to strengthen media collaboration

Speaking after a dialogue session with Media Prima executives, Mangwana said the agreement would provide a framework for long-term cooperation between Zimbabwe and Malaysia's media sectors.

"Part of this journey is to build a collaborative relationship in the media sector between Malaysia and Zimbabwe and we are working on an MoU," Mangwana said.

"Most of the clauses have already been agreed on how we can cooperate in the media space."

The proposed agreement is expected to cover cooperation in digital transformation, broadcasting, news production, professional exchanges, institutional development and skills transfer.

Focus on digital transformation

Mangwana was accompanied by officials from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services during the visit, which forms part of an official programme aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in media and communications. The Zimbabwean delegation met Media Prima executives to exchange experiences on newsroom operations, public broadcasting, digital innovation and emerging media technologies.

Officials said the proposed partnership would create opportunities for media professionals from both countries to participate in exchange programmes, specialised training and knowledge-sharing initiatives. The collaboration is also expected to support Zimbabwe's ongoing efforts to modernise its broadcasting and communications sector through the adoption of new technologies and international best practices.

Expanding international partnerships

Zimbabwe has increasingly sought strategic partnerships with international media organisations to accelerate digital transformation, improve newsroom capacity and strengthen institutional development. Media analysts say international cooperation agreements can help broadcasters and news organisations adapt to changing audience behaviour, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and evolving content distribution models.

If concluded, the MoU will establish a formal framework for collaboration in broadcasting, journalism, digital media, technology transfer and professional capacity building between Zimbabwe and Malaysia. The agreement is expected to further deepen bilateral relations while supporting Zimbabwe's broader vision of building a modern, digitally driven and globally competitive media industry.

Zimbabwe Malaysia media cooperation