Zimbabwe should re-engage key international media such as the CNN, BBC and newspapers if it is to successfully market itself as a tourist destination, Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has said.

Mzembi said prohibiting foreign media from operating in Zimbabwe as was the case now meant Harare could not hold these media accountable for any false, inaccurate or negative reports filed from outside the country.

“We need to re-engage the international media,” said Mzembi while addressing business leaders and ambassadors in Harare on Tuesday night.

“Let us accredit CNN, BBC and many other foreign, newspapers, radio and television stations because if we do not accredit them they will continue beaming and broadcasting from outside the country and we can never hold them accountable for negative publicity,” he said.

Mzembi’s call came a day after the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, Gorden Moyo, said consultations to ease media restrictions would “start in a fortnight.”

A three-day ministerial retreat in Victoria Falls unanimously agreed to review the media policy to create a political climate where divergent voices will be heard.

Mzembi admitted that the state broadcaster ZBC had lost credibility and had no capacity to lure tourists into the country, as its audience was mostly poor Zimbabweans who do not have disposable incomes to visit local tourist resorts.

“Who watches ZBC? No one because our target market subscribes to DSTV and other satellite stations hence the need to accredit foreign media that have the capacity to market the country,” said Mzembi.

Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara told the same gathering that the power-sharing government had remained silent on several outstanding issues such as the issue of appointment of senior public officials such as the Attorney General and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe that he said could affect attempts by Zimbabwe to re-engage the international community.

“As long as outstanding issues such as the appointment of the Reserve Bank governor, Attorney General, provincial governors, permanent secretaries and ambassadors remain unsolved, we are jeopardising our relationship with the international community who are showing support to our inclusive government,” said Mutambara.