• MISA and Lesotho Commission for UNESCO held a Media Information Literacy Civic Engagement Framework presentation.

• The chairperson for MISA gave a speech at the event.

• The participating stakeholders are the media, youth, women, trade unions, and civil societies.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa Lesotho, in collaboration with the Lesotho Commission for UNESCO, held a Media Information Literacy Civic Engagement Framework presentation in Maseru on Thursday, 23rd of February, 2023. 

At the event, MISA chairperson, Mr. Lekhetho Ntsukunyane gave a speech and he pointed out that MISA Lesotho works with civil society to build a network with the general public. He also mentioned that in this era of social media, everyone has a platform to disseminate information, he also said that MISA is aimed at educating the general public on how to disseminate information and consume it as it affects their daily lives, mostly in decision-making.

The Media Consultant, Mr. Sithetho Mzimkhulu also spoke; he said, the objective of MIL is to ensure that there are as many citizens who are media and information literate so that they can create so society that is competent in the optimal ethical and responsible as well. He also said they are aiming at reducing the risks and threats of unwarranted usage of information and its passage to society for purposes of misinformation, disinformation, and embarking on hate speech which delay the objective of communication in any set-up. He emphasized on the fact that they are expecting to archive beautiful patterns of information dissemination that are formed and this reinforces the filtering of information from primary sources to ultimate recipients of the education ladder.

In the same vein, the Lesotho commission for UNESCO Acting Chairperson, Mrs. Mabafokeng Seala said that civil society plays a pivotal role in the implementation of UNESCO programs. She said also civil societies help in engaging stakeholders, active participation, and effective reporting. The participating stakeholders are the media, youth, women, trade unions, and civil societies.

The importance of this program cannot be overemphasized as the need for the media and information is very important and the advantages by far, outweighs the disadvantages.