Southern African media councils have taken a significant step in strengthening regional self‑regulation by establishing the Southern African Press Councils Association and electing its first leadership. This was announced on 19 March 2026, in Lusaka, Zambia, following the African Media Councils Conference held from 17 to 18 March, where participants adopted the Lusaka Declaration on Media Self‑Regulation, Accountability, Sustainability and Information Integrity in Africa.
The newly formed Southern African Press Councils Association (SAPC) represents a collective commitment by press councils and media self‑regulatory bodies in the region to promote ethical journalism, enhance media accountability, and respond jointly to shared challenges. At its inaugural meeting in Lusaka, Director for the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe Loughty Dube was elected as the association’s Chairperson, with support from a leadership team that includes representatives from South Africa and Eswatini.
Conference delegates emphasised that the region’s media environment is undergoing profound change, with digital platforms and artificial intelligence reshaping how information is produced, distributed and consumed. They noted increasing threats to press freedom, including political pressure, financial instability and the spread of misinformation, underscoring the need for robust, independent self‑regulation mechanisms that can adapt to these challenges. These themes were central to the Lusaka Declaration, which affirms that media councils must operate independently, secure legal recognition and pursue diversified funding to ensure credibility and sustainability.
The association is expected to build on commitments made in Lusaka to strengthen complaints systems, improve public awareness of media accountability, and promote inclusion and gender equality within media governance structures. As a regional body, SAPC aims to harmonise ethical standards across jurisdictions, facilitate peer learning, and provide a coordinated platform for addressing cross‑border media issues.
Among those in attendance at the conference was Moses Kaufa, Executive Director of the Media Council of Malawi, highlighting Malawi’s active engagement in regional media reform efforts. Representatives from media councils in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Eswatini, Botswana and Namibia, as well as chapters of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, participated in discussions that affirmed shared principles of independence, accountability and resilience.
The creation of the Southern African Press Councils Association reflects a growing recognition that regional cooperation is essential in an era of rapid technological change and political uncertainty. Member institutions seek to combine their expertise and resources to strengthen journalistic standards, safeguard freedom of expression, and guarantee the public’s access to reliable information throughout Southern Africa.
You can download the declaration here:
