MISA Zambia, in partnership with the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO, conducted one-day in-house training workshops aimed at strengthening the capacity of community radio journalists to promote ethical election reporting and peace journalism ahead of Zambia’s 13 August 2026 General Elections.
The training for journalists and programme producers from Mkushi Community Radio was held on 15 June 2026, while a similar session for Bangwela Community Radio took place on 17 June 2026. Both workshops were held under the theme, “Empowering Media: Strengthening Ethical Election Reporting and Peace Journalism in Digital Times.”
The training sought to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills to provide accurate, balanced, impartial and conflict-sensitive election coverage while reinforcing the role of community radio as a trusted source of public interest information.
Speaking during the workshops, Zambia National Commission for UNESCO Communications Officer Mrs. Moira Chilufya Ng’uni underscored the critical role community radio stations play in strengthening democracy and promoting peaceful elections.
“Community radio stations remain among the most trusted and accessible sources of information, particularly in rural communities, where they play a vital role in promoting informed citizen participation, accountability and peaceful democratic processes. Recognising the increasing challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation and political polarisation during election periods, this training is aimed at strengthening journalists’ ability to respond professionally and ethically,” she said.
Also speaking during the workshops, MISA Zambia Programmes Associate – Policy and Advocacy, Mrs. Margaret Kabuswe Phiri, expressed appreciation to the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO for supporting the initiative at such a critical time in the country’s electoral calendar.
“We are grateful to UNESCO for organising these timely workshops during the election period. The media has a critical responsibility to provide citizens with accurate, balanced and verified information that enables them to make informed decisions. Building the capacity of community radio journalists at this stage of the electoral process will contribute significantly to promoting professional, ethical and peace-oriented election coverage across the country,” she said.
Participants received practical training on ethical election reporting, peace journalism, fact-checking, digital verification techniques, and strategies for identifying and countering misinformation and disinformation circulating on social media and other digital platforms. The sessions also enhanced participants’ understanding of the important role community media plays in fostering democracy, social cohesion and citizen engagement.
The training further strengthened participants’ ability to verify information before publication or broadcast, enabling them to identify and challenge false information that could undermine public trust and the integrity of the electoral process. The enhanced skills are expected to improve the quality of election reporting while increasing public confidence in community radio stations as reliable sources of credible election information.
Participants acknowledged the importance of upholding professional journalism standards and committed themselves to producing election coverage that is factual, fair, balanced and in the public interest.
Despite the successful outcome of the workshops, participants highlighted several challenges facing community radio stations, including limited financial and technical resources, the growing volume of misinformation circulating on digital platforms, and limited opportunities for continuous professional development.
MISA Zambia reaffirmed its commitment to supporting media development and strengthening journalists’ capacity to uphold professional and ethical standards throughout the electoral period. The organisation noted that continued investment in community media is essential to promoting credible journalism, informed citizen participation, and peaceful, transparent and credible elections in Zambia.
