By Andrew Mwanandiye Tembo

Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA)has urged  journalists to specialize technical understanding and narrative skills to communicate urgent environmental challenges in ways that inform,engage and inspire action from the general public.

MEPA ‘s Director of Planning and Information Management Services ,Dr Martino Mazinga  made the sentiments on Wednesday in Blantyre during media  training it organized to equip environmental journalist with extra knowledge on the same.

Mazinga said there have been resistance from companies and public on compliance towards thin plastic ban following some court injunctions, there is need for journalists to support the enforcements in a special way hence the training.

“Journalists do play crucial role ,so if they are well equiped with such knowledge together we can raise public awareness and bridge the gap between the policy makers and citizens in supporting enforcement and MEPA’s mandates and visibility” said Mazinga.

Mazinga further said as MEPA has done their part  even though some challenges are still existing ,including public understanding on why thin plastics are a danger to human life and the environment at large.

” we have managed to inspect more than 50 companies, and those found not complying have been issued with fines and or stop orders “he said.

In her turn one of the journalists who attended the training Cellina Khonje from Times Radio  said has been empowered and this will bring a change in their media institution.

MEPA is the principal agency for environmental protection and sustainable natural resources management ,established under Environment Management Act(EMA)of 2017. And is under section 7 of EMA and was operationalized in 2020 as a statutory body by a director general.

This EMA 2017 repealed the EMA 1996.