Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Government has expressed concern with the rampant abuse of social media networks.
Speaking in Lusaka this morning during the 2014 Social Good Summit under the theme “Connecting for Good, Connecting for All”, Information and Broadcasting services Minister Joseph Katema says some people have continued to use the communication tool as a platform of insults and all sorts of malicious statements against defenseless people.
Dr. Katema says this is unfortunate and unproductive, and expressed hope that forums such as the Social Good Summit will provide a fertile opportunity for finding solutions to the challenge.
He however notes that what is interesting with social media is that people can now freely self select into groups which are no longer bound by geographic or demographic boundaries.
Dr. Katema adds that government has placed high premium on the development of the ICT Sector including mobile phone industry not only for the critical role it plays in enhancing the free flow and public access to information, but also the important role it plays in transforming people’s lives socially and economically.
He states that the ongoing digital migration process from analogue television broadcasting is another landmark development in the modernization of the country’s information and communication industry.
Dr. has further challenged the United Nations family and all development actors to be more creative and use social media effectively for the benefit of the society.
And speaking earlier, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country director Viola Morgan says the summit will help shade light on the future post Millennium Development Goals and also to embrace the sustainable development goals.