Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu has challenged public relations (PR) practitioners to guard against fake news and disinformation as the country is gearing towards 2025 General Elections.
He said fake news has infiltrated many institutions in the country, including the PR profession, and it is tarnishing Malawi’s image.
Kunkuyu said this yesterday at Club Makokola in Mangochi when he opened this year’s Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) annual lakeshore conference.
Said Kunkuyu: “Fake news and disinformation are misleading people and tarnish the image of our country. We have so many things which we are doing extremely well, but because of fake news, our reputation is bad.
“Therefore, let me implore you the PR practitioners to help correct the anomaly by defusing the falsehood, especially now when we are creeping towards tripartite elections next year.”
The minister warned that fake news is bad and can ignite violence during election, hence, dared the PR practitioners to avoid the evil.
“I am happy with your theme. It is in line with our commitment to deal with fake news as we are inching towards elections next year. Therefore, let me ask you to help us in dispelling this problem for the growth of democracy and development,” he stressed.
The minister also challenged the PR practitioners to embrace digital platforms, schooling them that with the advancement in technology, as professionals, they do not need to lag behind.
“I can see papers all over here. This means we are still using papers for writing, yet the world has gone digital. Can’t we stop this? I expect that when I come again here next year, I won’t find you using these papers,” he teased.
“But above all, I also expect you to uphold tenets of your profession by being ethical and transparent, and ensure integrity. These are crucial because they ensure the protection of your profession,” he said.
PRSM president Benson Linje reiterated the society’s commitment to remaining an important profession that sanitises the country through their positive communication.
“We are committed to use our communication skills to ensure that we are on top of the agenda on everything so that we foster development in the country,” he said.
Linje asked the minister to help grow the PR profession by ensuring that more PROs from both public and private institutions attend the gathering.
The three-day conference is being held under the theme ‘Managing Narratives For Enhanced Democracy and Development’.
