Staff Reporter VICE President Lucia Witbooi has called on communicators to strengthen public trust by promoting accurate information, combating misinformation and embracing ethical communication, saying effective communication is essential for good governance and national development. Witbooi made the remarks at the official opening the 2026 Effective Communicators Conference (ECC26) at The Dome in Swakopmund, where government communicators, media professionals, public relations practitioners and communication experts from across Africa gathered under the theme “Communication Reconsidered: A Driving Force for Constant Progress.” The three-day conference focuses on how strategic communication can support development, strengthen public confidence in institutions and shape the future of the communications profession. In her opening address, Witbooi said communication has become the backbone of trust, nation-building and democratic unity, particularly in an era marked by rapid digital transformation, artificial intelligence and the spread of misinformation. She urged communicators in both the public and private sectors to ensure that facts, truth and clarity prevail over misinformation and disinformation. “You must be champions of truth and agents of change. You are the vital link that ensures government programmes are not just implemented, but truly understood and appreciated by the public,” she said. Witbooi encouraged delegates to use the conference to develop practical solutions that will strengthen communication systems in Namibia and across the region. She said government communicators play a critical role in supporting the implementation of Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) by improving public awareness, institutional coordination, digital inclusion and community engagement. “We recognise that effective communication between government, people and institutions is crucial for bringing clarity, alignment and trust. It is essential for driving positive change and enabling informed decision-making,” she said. The Vice President also called for stronger investment in communication structures and greater support for communicators to enable them to respond effectively to misinformation. She said government expects the conference to produce practical recommendations on strengthening credibility, adapting to emerging trends and improving the way African stories are told. Botswana Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe, who delivered the keynote address, urged Africans to tell their own stories with honesty, confidence and pride. He said effective communication is central to building trust, countering misinformation and showcasing Africa’s achievements, opportunities and aspirations to the world. Gaolathe said communicators have an important responsibility to shape accurate, solution-driven narratives that reflect the continent’s realities and potential. The conference also featured remarks from Erongo Governor Neville Andre, Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus, international partners and industry leaders, who highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening strategic communication. Following the conference, Gaolathe visited the Botswana Container Terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay, where he received a briefing on the strategic role of the Botswana Dry Port in facilitating regional trade through the Trans-Kalahari Corridor. The visit underscored the longstanding partnership between Namibia and Botswana in promoting regional integration, trade and economic growth within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Photo: Ministry of Information and Communication Technology – Republic of Namibia The post Effective communicators urged to build trust and combat misinformation appeared first on Informanté.

Patience Makwele  Vice President Lucia Witbooi has warned that misinformation and weak public communication could undermine the implementation of Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), saying the government must strengthen how it engages citizens if it is to deliver on its development agenda. Opening the second Effective Communicators Conference (ECC26) in Swakopmund on Thursday, Witbooi […]

Patience Makwele  Vice President Lucia Witbooi has warned that misinformation and weak public communication could undermine the implementation of Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), saying the government must strengthen how it engages citizens if it is to deliver on its development agenda. Opening the second Effective Communicators Conference (ECC26) in Swakopmund on Thursday, Witbooi […]

Patience Makwele  Vice President Lucia Witbooi has warned that misinformation and weak public communication could undermine the implementation of Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), saying the government must strengthen how it engages citizens if it is to deliver on its development agenda. Opening the second Effective Communicators Conference (ECC26) in Swakopmund on Thursday, Witbooi said communication has evolved beyond simply sharing information and has become central to governance, public trust and nation-building. She cautioned that even well-designed government programmes risk falling short if citizens do not understand the policies driving them. “We are determined to deliver and be judged on our key national priorities but it will be futile if there is no emphasis on the critical importance of strategic communication of these national priority areas,” she said. Witbooi said government communicators have a responsibility to ensure that accurate information reaches the public at a time when misinformation and disinformation are becoming increasingly prevalent on digital platforms. “As communicators, you are tasked with a serious responsibility to ensure that facts, truth and clarity prevail over misinformation and disinformation. You must be champions of truth and agents of change,” she said. She warned that the government itself would be vulnerable if it failed to adequately support the professionals responsible for communicating public policy. “As government, we must equally ensure adequate support and provisions to our communicators who navigate daily the complexities of telling our efforts. For if we do not we will be at the mercy of disinformation and misinformation,” Witbooi said. The Vice President said strategic communication would be essential to achieving the objectives of NDP6 by improving public awareness, strengthening institutional coordination, promoting digital inclusion and encouraging greater citizen participation in national development. She also challenged delegates to ensure the conference produces tangible outcomes rather than remaining a platform for discussion. “At the end of this conference, we will be expecting a guiding document on how we can intentionally strengthen credibility, adapt to emerging trends and tell our stories from our perspective,” she said. Her remarks come as governments around the world grapple with the rapid spread of false information online, a challenge that has intensified with the growth of artificial intelligence and digital communication platforms. Organisers of the conference have identified misinformation, information integrity and ethical communication among the key issues under discussion during the two-day gathering. Communication practitioners attending the conference echoed the Vice President’s concerns, saying timely, factual and accessible communication is becoming increasingly important to building public trust and improving engagement between institutions and citizens. Botswana’s Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe, who delivered the keynote address, said Africa’s greatest communication challenge was not a lack of achievements but a failure to shape its own narrative. “The Africa I know has no shortage of achievement. It has suffered a shortage of authorship,” he said. Gaolathe urged governments, journalists and communication professionals to tell Africa’s story with confidence, integrity and discipline rather than allowing others to define the continent. “Attention can be manufactured. Trust must be earned. Noise may trend for a day. Truth acquires a life beyond its author,” he said. He also linked effective communication to economic development, arguing that stronger regional cooperation, infrastructure and trade corridors such as the Trans-Kalahari Corridor and the port of Walvis Bay demonstrate how partnerships can translate into tangible economic opportunities. Addressing young communicators, Gaolathe urged them to prioritise truth and solutions-focused storytelling. “Write with rigour. Write with pride. Write audience-first, solutions-first and truth-first. Tell Africa to Africa. Then tell Africa to the world,” he said. The conference, hosted by the Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), has brought together government officials, communication professionals, academics and industry leaders from across Africa to examine the future of strategic communication, artificial intelligence, media credibility and public trust. The gathering is expected to conclude with recommendations aimed at strengthening communication practices across government and other institutions as Namibia seeks to improve public engagement and support for the implementation of NDP6.