Malawi National Commission for UNESCO’s Executive Secretary, Francis Mkandawire, said on Wednesday that there was need to strengthen the capacity of the media to support water education for sustainable development through effective, efficient and knowledgeable reporting on water issues.
Speaking during a day-long meeting for mass media professionals on water issues in Lilongwe, he said citizens needed to be sensitised on what is going on in water issues so that they are able to participate in various initiatives undertaken by government.
”We would like the media to help people keep pace with various efforts meant to improve access to and utilisation of water by keeping them adequately and correctly informed” he said.
On her part, Secretary for Water and Irrigation Andrina Mchiela said the government’s long term goal under the water sector is to ensure that water resources are well protected, utilised and managed to meet agricultural, domestic and industrial demands.
The water sector has direct links to the sectors of agriculture and energy, therefore serious problems would arise in these sectors if water is poorly utilised and managed in using it.
”Therefore the media have a crucial role to play in disseminating information to the public on the need to conserve, utilise and manage water in our country,” she said.
Malawi placed water as the second key priority area after agriculture and food security under its Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS).
Wednesday 27 August 2008
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