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The Zambian government has urged African media stakeholders to unite in confronting challenges posed by rapid technological changes, including artificial intelligence and misinformation.
Information and Media Minister, Cornelius Mweetwa, reaffirmed government’s commitment to media freedom, as enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
Mweetwa’s remarks were delivered in a speech read on his behalf by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe during the opening of the African Media Councils Conference held at the Urban Hotel Lusaka on Tuesday.
He underscored the importance of a self-regulating media environment, noting that government supported the establishment of the Media Self-Regulation Council of Zambia in 2023 to promote professionalism and accountability in the media industry.
“A united African media, built on shared standards and cooperation, is better positioned to withstand external pressures and effectively serve the public,” Mweetwa said.
However, he expressed concern over emerging threats such as fake news, disinformation and the growing impact of artificial intelligence, calling for bold and coordinated action from media practitioners across the continent.
Mweetwa said the conference, themed “A Solidarity-Based Approach to Regulatory, Financial and Digital Challenges,” provided an important platform to collaborate and develop shared strategies to strengthen media credibility.
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“While we commend the media’s commitment to upholding professionalism, we are concerned about the technological changes sweeping across the African media landscape, bringing with them challenges of artificial intelligence, fake news, disinformation and misinformation,” he said.
He emphasized that these emerging challenges required bold, swift and concerted efforts, including an adaptive and forward-looking response to technological change to safeguard a free, responsible and credible media.
The Minister further urged the development of modern codes of ethics and regulatory frameworks to guide the media in navigating the digital era.
“I also appeal to you, as you build common approaches, to consider establishing codes of ethics for the digital frameworks for how the media can professionally respond to the threats posed by artificial intelligence,” he said.
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