About

The Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA) was established in May 2024 at an inaugural meeting of African media councils.

A group of 13 African media councils resolved to form NIMCA with the aim of fostering collaboration, learning, and solidarity among independent media regulatory bodies in Africa.

Mission and Vision

Our vision: Media freedom, accountability and credible journalism as a public good.

Our mission: To strengthen independent media content regulatory bodies in Africa and promote self or co-regulation models in support of professional journalism standards, credible media; and promotes media freedom and freedom of expression.

Our Objectives

To promote and protect the mutual interests of independent media regulatory bodies in Africa, for the advancement of all Africans.
To support and enhance our members’ efforts to:
- Advocate for freedom of the media;
- Address media fragmentation;
- Combat disinformation;
- Promote ethical journalism;
- Explore the role of media councils in regulating digital platforms.
To mobilise resources and ensure the sustainability of the Network and its members.

Governance

NIMCA is governed by an annual assembly of its members as the highest decision-making body, with operations delegated to an Executive Committee representing the regions of our membership.

NIMCA Board

Chair: Executive Director of the Press Council of South Africa

Phathiswa Magopeni

Ms Phathiswa Magopeni is currently the Executive Director of Press Council of South Africa (PCSA) and Executive Board member of the Network of Independent Media Council of Africa (NIMCA). She has expertise in media leadership, strategy formulation, operationalization, and implementation.
Pathiswa, has extensive experience in editorial governance and content development, newsroom leadership, operations management, organisational development, and digital transformation. She designed and led strategic communications projects as the SABC News editor-in-chief and group executive to keep multiple stakeholders, including the public, abreast of the work done by the news entity.

Member: National Media Commission, Ghana

George Sarpong

Mr. George Sarpong is currently the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission of Ghana and the Executive Member of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA). In his current roles, he oversees media regulation as well coordinates the appointment of the Chief Executives and Boards of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, the Ghana News Agency and the New Times Corporation. George who is currently the vice chair of the United Nations Joint Staff Pensions Fund in New York, USA and also a board member of the UNESCO Medical Benefits Fund, Paris, he served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority; the Allied Health Professions Regulatory Council; and the National Blood Service of Ghana. Previously, George taught at the University of Ghana, the Ghana Institute of Journalism and the Accra Technical University.

Member: Rwanda Media Commission

Emmanuel Mugisha

Member: Media Council of Malawi

Moses Kaufa

Member: Media Council of Tanzania

Ernest Sungura

Mr. Ernest Sungura is currently the Executive Secretary of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and the Executive Chairman of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA). He has over 30 years of experience in journalism, media management and development. Previously, Ernest taught at various schools of journalism including University of Dar es Salaam at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Ernest is an enterprising, talented Tanzanian leader able to coordinate and bring team together. He has created, innovated and pioneered Media Business Transformation Model which focused on first ensuring financial independence then editorial independence of the media sector in Tanzania between 2008 – 2017 through the Tanzania Media Fund project whose main goal was to promote public interest and investigative journalism.

Assembly President: Media Self-Regulation Council of Zambia

Kennedy Mambwe

Mr. Kennedy Mambwe is currently the Chairperson of the Media Self-Regulation Council of Zambia (MSCZ) and Executive Board member of the Network of Independent Media Councils of Africa (NIMCA). In his current roles at the MSCZ, he demonstrates his commitment to promoting ethical standards and professionalism within the Zambian media landscape. As chairperson, he oversees initiatives related to media self-regulation, ethical guidelines, and industry standards. Kennedy is the founder and CEO of KBN TV, a prominent 24/7 digital television channel available nationwide on platforms like GO TV, DStv, and Top Star in Zambia. With over two decades of experience as a journalist, he accumulated a wealth of insights and expertise in the field of journalism. He is recognized as a respected thought leader in PR and corporate communications.

Member: Head of NIMCA Secretariat

Ziada Kilobo

Ziada Kilobo is currently the Head of NIMCA Secretariat. She was appointed by the NIMCA Executive Board after she successfully coordinated the NIMCA Technical team in setting up NIMCA and operationalizing Board resolutions. Ziada is currently an Institutional Sustainability Specialist of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and head of MCT Zanzibar office. She has a strong background and expertise in administration and human resource management.

Member

Izak Minnaar

Izak Minnaar is currently a Consultant and Trainer on journalism, information and digital rights. He successfully coordinated and organized African Media Councils conference through the Press Council of South Africa (PCSA) which resulted into establishment of the Network of Independent of Media Councils of Africa (NIMCA). The inaugural NIMCA Executive Board resolved to co-opt him in the Board. Izak is currently focusing on the sustainability of journalism, election reporting, access to information, digital rights, media regulation and related causes in South Africa and around the continent. His journalism career spanned over 40 years in editorial coverage and newsroom leadership roles at print, broadcast and online media. He worked at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as editor. He was on the drafting teams for the 2019 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and the 2017 Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa, issued by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.