Southern African Media Councils Establish Regional Self-Regulation Body

Southern African media councils have established the Southern African Press Councils Association, a regional self-regulation body aimed at promoting ethical journalism and enhancing media accountability. The association was announced on 19 March 2026, in Lusaka, Zambia, following the African Media Councils Conference. The new body represents a collective commitment by press councils and media self-regulatory bodies in the region to respond jointly to shared challenges.

The Southern African Press Councils Association was formed following the adoption of the Lusaka Declaration on Media Self-Regulation, Accountability, Sustainability and Information Integrity in Africa. The declaration affirms that media councils must operate independently, secure legal recognition and pursue diversified funding to ensure credibility and sustainability. 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.

Loughty Dube, Director for the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe, was elected as the association's Chairperson, with support from a leadership team that includes representatives from South Africa and Eswatini. The association aims to harmonise ethical standards across jurisdictions, facilitate peer learning, and provide a coordinated platform for addressing cross-border media issues.

The Lusaka Declaration and the formation of the association reflect a growing recognition that regional cooperation is essential in an era of rapid technological change and political uncertainty. Conference delegates 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.

Representatives from media councils in several countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Eswatini, Botswana and Namibia, participated in discussions that affirmed shared principles of independence, accountability and resilience. Moses Kaufa, Executive Director of the Media Council of Malawi, was among those in attendance, highlighting Malawi's active engagement in regional media reform efforts.

The Southern African Press Councils 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. The association will also seek to combine the expertise and resources of its member institutions to strengthen journalistic standards, safeguard freedom of expression, and guarantee the public's access to reliable information throughout Southern Africa.

The creation of the Southern African Press Councils Association marks a significant step in strengthening regional self-regulation. The association's formation and the Lusaka Declaration demonstrate a collective commitment to promoting ethical journalism, enhancing media accountability, and responding jointly to shared challenges in the region.

Key points

• The Southern African Press Councils Association was formed to promote ethical journalism and enhance media accountability in the region.
• The association aims to harmonise ethical standards across jurisdictions and provide a coordinated platform for addressing cross-border media issues.
• The Lusaka Declaration affirms the importance of media councils operating independently, securing legal recognition, and pursuing diversified funding.