Monday, December 9, 2024

President Hichilema Urged to Strengthen PR Team Amid Criticism Over Ineffective Communication

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In the face of increasing criticism, President Hakainde Hichilema is being called upon to revamp his public relations team following pointed remarks from prominent activist Laura Miti, who described the administration’s communications efforts as “comatose.”

Miti, a well-known voice on Zambian social and political issues, questioned the President’s handling of public communication, expressing concern that the current PR team’s performance has left the administration vulnerable to misleading narratives. Specifically, she argued that without a capable team in place to counter allegations and misinformation, the President’s own actions have appeared unpresidential, as he has taken on communication tasks that she believes should be handled by professional PR staff.

“If the President resolutely refuses to put together a PR team that can easily show the stories that Emmanuel Mwamba expertly … puts together to be mostly lies or spin, then he cannot be excused for unpresidentially doing what should be left to his communication team,” Miti stated, referencing Mwamba, a former government official and media figure known for his critical stance on the current administration.

Her remarks point to a perceived gap in the government’s public relations strategy, noting that Hichilema’s PR team has yet to provide an effective counter-narrative to criticisms circulating on social media. Miti further stressed that the solution does not lie in reshaping social media itself but in reinforcing the administration’s communication infrastructure.

This critique raises questions about the administration’s approach to public engagement and messaging, especially as the government seeks to address pressing national issues. As public sentiment shifts, the call for a stronger, more responsive PR team is a reminder of the importance of robust communication strategies in maintaining public trust and conveying government achievements.

26 COMMENTS

  1. What one must understand HH is a one man show
    Even before he was president
    It is his way or no way
    I have said before Zesco will be his undoing How many times have we been told power will normalise shortly yet loadshedding is getting worse

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  2. Unfortunately for Laura she doesn’t realize that when you’re in charge it’s action that speaks louder than words. HH is now in government and no amount of laundering or propaganda will cleanse him. His utterances and deeds don’t tally. BoZ has failed to replace old tattered notes and now they want to send people to prison for 5yrs for a mere money bouquet as if that will replace the tattered notes. It’s the first time it’s happening. All these a symptoms of failure that a robust media team can’t fix

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  3. The lowest point for me for HH was to ask a lady to stand up and show if she was pregnant or not. And assuming the pregnancy was in its infancy, how was it going to show. Public office at that level requires some one to have some thick skin. Indeed his PR team requires a major shake up like yesterday

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  4. The opposition alliances in Botswana and now Mauritius have won the Presidential elections. And they had powerful PR teams. PR is very important. Unlike here where Kalaba, Membe and Silavwe are misleading themselves that they are popular and can win elections, no they cannot.

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  5. Laura, you can assemble the best PR team in the world for your bitter, vengeful, primitive villager but nothing will change the narrative that he is a failure and a huge disappointment to the majority of people who voted for him. He is doing the exact opposite of what he promised the people in 2021. So which PR team is going to spin that?

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    • But his PR team doesn’t help. The likes of Hamasaka aren’t PR. They are just “whatever I pick up I throw” journalists. That’s not how you defend someone as powerful as a president. You don’t hurl insults at the president’s enemies. You use intellect.

  6. Laura has failed to discharge her duty as Human Rights Commissioner, and just jumping all over the place and trying to be a judge. Just another loud mouth

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  7. Hamasaka is the cause of failure at state for the head of state to communicate effectively with the public and counter false narratives of individuals against the president and state house.

  8. All these are just symptom of a failed leadership. Brics, should consider very very carefully African states that are vying to join the block: most of these countries such as Kenya , Zambia etc are headed controlled by Western stooges. Their role is to siphon money from the west for their own bellies and have no interest of the people that voted for them. They don’t have anything good to bring to the table other than western tentacles. These leaders are backwards in thinking and actions.

  9. She wants the PR team to lie on behalf of the president….. they have been doing so for him but they have finished the book of lies, rebuttals and excuses…. don’t blame them.

    • Recently, Miti was captured sharing a light moment with Lungu by the media. The next moment choosing her words carefully, she is telling us about how expertly and media friendly Mwamba is contrasting the unpresidential president we have in HH and for the first time avoiding drawing Lungu into the mud. She never ceases to amaze.

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  10. Ruphia Banda had the best of PRs in Zambian history before and during elections. He even imported some image builders, PANEL BEATERS, from abroad. Did that save him? No. Electorates always know what to look for in a candidate.
    Even if Akainde pulls a fast one in 2026, his replacement for 2031 would not make it. Why? Because Most political parties centre on one man and not the ideology. No wonder PF is ransacked today.

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  11. This has been said 1000 times. In such situations you need a sharp team that combines political acumen with dynamic risk communication permutations. One can do the best but if they can not manage to develop a palatable narrative that resonates with the public at a particular time, it becomes a null.

  12. ………

    Just indoctrinate Dora silti to join UPND and let her do the job………

    Very few people can match Dora in public media relations……..

    Forwadee 2031…….

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