The Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA), on 15th and 16th August, joined the Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) and communication professionals to commemorate World Public Relations Day 2026, which also marked PRSM’s 10th Anniversary.

The two-day commemoration featured a PR and Strategic Communications Masterclass held under the theme, “Trust Under Pressure: Balancing AI, Authenticity, and Reputation in a Digitally Scrutinised World.”

The Masterclass provided valuable insights into ethical communication, reputation management, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital governance and strategic leadership, among other emerging issues shaping the communication profession.

According to PPDA Public Relations and Communications Manager Mandy Pondani, the discussions were particularly relevant to the Authority as it continues to lead communication and stakeholder engagement around the implementation of the Malawi National Electronic Procurement System (MANePS).

“Communication is at the heart of every successful reform; as PPDA drives the implementation of MANePS, we recognize that our role extends beyond sharing information we must educate, engage, build confidence and ensure every stakeholder understands and embraces the transformation taking place in public procurement,” said Pondani.

She added that effective communication remains critical to building trust, strengthening stakeholder engagement, increasing public awareness and supporting the successful adoption of Electronic Government Procurement (E-GP) across Malawi.

Commenting on the Masterclass PRSM President Rachel Kalera-Mhango said that while AI can generate information within seconds, it cannot manufacture trust, urging communication professionals to remain vigilant, creative and conscious of the trust placed in them.

The commemorations therefore reinforced the need for communication professionals to embrace technological innovation responsibly while safeguarding authenticity, ethical judgement and human connection, with PPDA reaffirming the importance of strategic communication in building confidence in public procurement reforms.