The Mozambican government on Thursday called for more proactive, coordinated and technologically prepared government communication in response to the rapid spread of fake news and unverified information.
Speaking at the opening of the first Government Communicators Forum in Maputo, Minister of State Administration and Public Service Inocêncio Impissa said public communication must assume a strategic role in defending the credibility of state institutions and strengthening citizens' trust in the state.
Organised by the Government Information Office, the forum brought together around 120 communication professionals from various state institutions at both central and provincial levels, with the objective of harmonising strategies and methodologies for disseminating government policies, programmes and actions.
Addressing the forum on behalf of Prime Minister Benvinda Levi, Impissa — who also serves as spokesperson for the Council of Ministers — said government communication goes beyond the simple dissemination of administrative decisions. He argued that it contributes to the "consolidation of democracy" and guarantees "the exercise of the right to information" regarding "political decisions, programmes and achievements of the government".
Impissa said the current environment presents unprecedented challenges for communication professionals, particularly due to the growing influence of digital platforms. "We live today in an era of digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence and the proliferation of social networks," he said, describing a landscape marked by high volumes of information and the rapid spread of fake news.
The minister argued that the circulation of unverified information represents a growing threat to the quality of public debate and to citizens' trust in institutions. "The fabrication of false news, the manipulation of information and the circulation of unverified content mean that unreliable information circulates at an unprecedented speed and spreads rapidly, causing disinformation and fuelling confusion," he said.
"Trust is built every day through credible, transparent, accessible and responsible information," Impissa stated.
Faced with this reality, Impissa called for a shift in how government communicators operate, arguing that the response cannot be limited to issuing subsequent denials of false reports. "To avoid repeated denials through press releases, briefings and clarification sessions, communicators must transform themselves and adapt to new realities," he said.
Impissa urged government communicators to make use of social media, Artificial Intelligence and other new technologies to bring public institutions closer to citizens and make official communication more effective and accessible. He also underscored the importance of professionalism, ethics and rigour in the production and dissemination of official information.
"This responsibility also demands high standards of professionalism, ethics, rigour and a sense of mission. The government communicator must understand that every piece of information they convey represents a public institution and, ultimately, the state itself," Impissa said, calling for greater coordination among state communicators.
The Government Communicators Forum included training sessions, discussions and experience-sharing, focused on strengthening institutional communication and building more integrated mechanisms among public sector communication professionals.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=530264
