MISA Zambia is happy to support this year’s African Media Councils Conference, organised by the Media Self-Regulation Council of Zambia (MSCZ) with support from BBC Media Action. Held under the theme “A Solidarity-Based Approach to Regulatory, Financial and Digital Challenges”, the conference brings together Media Councils from across Africa to strengthen collaboration through a solidarity-based approach tackling regulatory pressures, financial sustainability, and digital transformation challenges.
The Minister of Information and Media, Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, MP, welcomed everyone to Lusaka and Zambia’s warm hospitality. He reaffirmed government backing for media freedom per Article 20 of our Constitution and the MSCZ’s launch in April 2023, while flagging AI, fake news, and disinformation threats. The Minister urged bold alliances, digital ethics codes, and viewing solidarity as a key strategy for a resilient African media. This is contained in a keynote address read on his behalf by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Mulambo Haimbe.
MSCZ Chairperson Kennedy K. Mambwe thanked partners including BBC Media Action, SIDA, FCDO, EU, and MISA Zambia for making this milestone event possible. He highlighted shared challenges like fake news with forged documents across Africa, pushing for collective strategies post the 2025 Arusha Summit, and praised journalists embracing ethics.
The EU representative Ms Petra Gasparova, voiced strong support, spotlighting global media pressures such as the 186 journalist killings in three years, online abuse, disinformation wars, and trust erosion. He hailed self-regulation for ethics and independence, calling for networks on fact-checking and digital resilience, with EU ready to bolster media freedom partnerships in Africa.
This two-day conference, running from the 17th to the 18th of March 2026, at Urban Hotel in Kabulonga, Lusaka, sees media councils across Africa convened to learn from each other and build lasting networks.
