24/06/2026
📚🗳️ Equipping Youth to Counter Defamation Ahead of Elections
Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a Media and Information Literacy Training on Countering Defamation organized by the Free Press Initiative. The session was facilitated by Hon. Maria Mumba and her team, bringing together young people from different backgrounds to learn about responsible communication in the digital age.
As Zambia heads toward the elections, the spread of false and defamatory content online remains one of the biggest threats to informed decision-making. Young people are among the most active users of social media and are often the most affected by misinformation. This is why media and information literacy is more important now than ever before.
The training focused on practical skills such as identifying defamation, verifying information before sharing it, responding responsibly online, understanding what to do when accused, and learning why simply deleting a harmful post and apologizing may not be enough. These are valuable skills that help young people become responsible digital citizens and informed participants in our democracy.
As the Acting President of Ghetto Movement Alliance (GMA), I am grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside fellow young people and gain knowledge that can help strengthen our communities. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Free Press Initiative, Hon. Maria Mumba, and all the facilitators for investing in youth empowerment through education and awareness.
Together, we can build a generation that is informed, responsible, and committed to promoting truth, respect, and constructive dialogue both online and offline.
