Zambia Free Press Initiative (FPI) Founder Joan Chirwa has urged Zambians to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information online, emphasising the importance of verifying facts before accepting or circulating news.
Chirwa, a journalist and lawyer, said the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation on digital platforms makes media literacy increasingly important, as members of the public need to develop the skills to distinguish credible information from false or misleading content.
“People must exercise a lot of caution when consuming information online. It is important to verify and fact-check information as much as possible before believing it or sharing it with others,” she said.
Chirwa said her organisation had, over the past two and a half years, made significant strides in sensitising communities across Zambia on media and information literacy through a network of trained community trainers.
The initiative, supported by Interlink Academy and funded by the German Government, has focused on equipping citizens with practical skills to critically assess information, fact-check claims and use digital platforms responsibly.
She said the programme had recorded encouraging progress, with communities increasingly appreciating the importance of media literacy and the role individuals play in promoting a well-informed society.
“We are encouraged by the progress made so far. We are seeing communities increasingly appreciate why media literacy matters and the need to be more critical about the information they consume and share,” Chirwa said.
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She stressed that everyone has a responsibility to help curb the spread of false information by taking time to establish the accuracy and credibility of information before sharing it.
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