Republican Vice President Inonge Wina has called on the delegates to the first-ever World Communication Forum Africa being held in Lusaka to devise strategies that will help many countries in the world to regulate social media.
Speaking during the opening of the forum, Mrs Wina said that government is concerned with the negative impact of social media on people’s privacy and countries’ economies and that countries should come up with strategies that will address the negative branding on various economies by the digital era.
Mrs Wina indicated that despite the merits of social media, it has had negative impacts on people’s right to privacy and detrimental to global economies due to its negative branding.
Mrs Wina made the remarks today during the official opening of the first-ever World Communication Forum Africa being held in Lusaka from 24th to 25th November.
“As the World is grappling with the negative impact of COVID-19 social media has helped to bridge the gap of communication via applications such as facebook, whatsapp and Instagram. Despite this positive trend, the digital platform has had a negative impact on individuals right to privacy and rebranding the countries, therefore, this meeting is a timely occasion to come up with strategies that will regulate how social media operates,” the Vice President stressed.
Mrs Wina expressed confidence that the World Communication Forum will halt online crime abuse that is being perpetuated by criminals.
Information ,Publicity and information of Zimbabwe, Monica
Mutsvangwa(M) during the World Communication Forum -Africa in Lusaka.
Looking on is Minister of Information, Dora Siliya
And Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya whose ministry is spearheading the event, said the World Communication Forum for Africa is the game changer in the way people use social media.
Ms Siliya stressed that with the overweighing number of media practitioners from different spectrum attending the meeting, there is no doubt that the resolutions from the conference will positively project social media usage.
Meanwhile, an envoy of the Zimbabwean government said her country has embraced both traditional and digital media platforms.
Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the evolving technology has brought people together and expedited business transactions despite the physical boundaries.
Ms Mutsvangwa who is Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services pointed out that the key to regulating social media is planning and proper communication.
She emphasized that professional communicators should stick to the truth and report objectively in order to expose the unfactual stories that some sections of the digital platforms propagate.
“You will agree with me that we are lucky that Covid-19 struck in the era of social media because as countries we managed to continue communicating and holding virtual meetings such as the United Nations General Assembly virtually. In my home country the government has embraced both social media platforms and we have established a call center that is helping us to analyze the messages that are put across,” she said.
The Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister recalled that when her country was stricken by cyclone Idai together with Malawi and Mozambique in January last year (2019) the news was spread through social media and many countries rendered support to the victims.
The World Communication Forum that will run from 24th to 25th November is being held at Bonanza Resort under the theme ‘Communication in a Changing World: Challenges and chances’ and is being attended virtually by the World Communication Forum Association President Maxima Behar.
Dora Siliya during the World Communication Forum -Africa in Lusaka.
Information, Dora Siliya during the World Communication Forum -Africa
in Lusaka.
I have been saying this for so long. This is needed especially to regulate those sad arrogant angry upnd diasporans who spend all their time on social media and online forums such as this one insulting the government of the day and insulting Africans as a whole. Lusakatime can you consider bringing about a reporting mechanism on this platform so that we can self regulate these donkeys in upnd
Ba Kaizer, muzaifuna social media, besides people died to have this freedom of speech which you are advocating to be scraped from citizens.
I disagree with you.
Social media must be regulated or else it can bring Kafwafwa
Ba Vice President stop wasting time fighting the unconquerable. The internet has arrived on earth and those embracing it whether they are progressives or retrogressives should know you cant control its freedom because this platform is designed for both the democrats and autocrats to express themselves freely. Their ideas should meet and fight on the internet not in dark corridors
Closing social media will only happen if you want the whole society disconnected from internet. Since all Zambian politicians love controlling freedom of expression citizens can escape this control by resorting to the freedom of social media. Go control your DeadNBC like ZANU PF does to DeadBC ad have a TV that is broadcasting from the Mortuary.
Hope UPND sent representatives to this forum
Because someone video recorded you sleeping during the parliament proceeding hahaha?? but if you need todo talk to mobile operators and zicta August 2021 I can’t wait just got my voters card
The Veep is right social media must be regulated
The guilty are always afraid , nothing new here.
Eagle 2 ??? strong and free
Well agreed. Already some PF chap here @ KZ is insulting others.
Can someone take this dead thing back to the coffin. Wasting precious oxygen.
Its only dictators talking of regulating social media.
Very deliberately crafted caption. I have never seen LT say Hichilema walks abreast Gary Nkombo but when its women in the picture we see Vice-President Inonge Wina walks abreast with Minister of Information, Dora Siliya during the World Communication Forum -Africa in Lusaka.
Sexists!
Control Social Media in your dreams!