Malawi Journalists tipped on flood early warning coverage

Songwe River Basin Commission (SRBC) has underscored the need of capacitating Media Practisionors with knowledge on flood early warning systems saying the vice is key in saving people’s lives and property when floods come.

The sentiments were made in Karonga following a two day engagement with Reporters in the district where the joint Commission oriented the media with knowledge on floods and early warning systems and as well as outlining projects that they were implementing and plan to carry out.

In an interview Hydrological Field Expert for the Commission John Mthandi, Said due to their outreach through various platforms media practitioners are key in the rapid dissemination of messages of the early warning systems hence the interface with them.

“We are establishing a flood early warning system at Songwe River that is intended to provide early warning messages with the aim of helping communities to relocate to upland areas before flood hits thereby saving lives and livelihoods but this can’t be successful without the involvement of the media,” he said.

Mthandi therefore added, building the capacity of the media on the Commissions efforts of reducing the impacts of floods in both Karonga and Kyera is crucial in saving lives and property in the eventuality of floods.

On his part Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources for Karonga Rafael Mkisi, said due to the geographic area where the district lies as such it is vital to equip the media with the necessary skills and knowledge in order for them to write and communicate early warning messages.

He noted due to frequent occurance of floods in the district therefore having timely and collect information from the media can be the difference in saving the communities from the destructions that come with floods.

Adams Wundanige of Zodiak Broadcasting Station one of the participants to the orientation, commended the Commission for the timely engagement with reporters.

“Knowledge is power so the skills that we have been equipped with has now opened our eyes on what the joint Commission is doing and what we Journalists can do to provide factual information and articles on the progress of projects that they are undertaking with the aim of benefiting and developing the communities of both Malawi and Tanzania,” he articulated.

The government of the united republic of Tanzania and Malawi are jointly implementing the Songwe River Basin Development Program which covers an area of 4,243km of songwe river basin in seven districts of Karonga, Chitipa in Malawi and Kyela, beye Rural, Beje, Mbuzi and Momba in Tanzania.

Managed by the secretariat of the joint SRBC Among other projects planned include construction of dams for flood control and hydropower production, water supply and tourism.