Journalists Urged to Report More on Disaster Preparedness

Journalists in the Shire Valley have been asked to report more on how communities can prepare for disasters, not just on what happens after disasters strike.

The meeting was made by Hastings Mwanjoka, Deputy Director for Disaster Resilience in the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), during a training in Chikwawa. The three days training was supported by Concern Worldwide.

Mwanjoka said that most news reports focus on disasters only after they happen. “We forget about the importance of preparation. Communities need to be ready in advance so that the damage can be less,” he said.

He also mentioned that Malawi now has a Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Act of 2023 and a new policy. A study has also been done to identify which areas are most at risk of disasters. Mwanjoka said this information should be shared with the people.

One of the participants, Precious Kadwala from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), said the training is very helpful. “We will now report better by covering all parts of disaster management, not just the response,” she said.

The training aims to help journalists understand the full disaster risk management cycle, including preparedness, response, recovery, and prevention.