Malawi media sensitized on Comesa intergration programs reporting
Minister of Trade and Industry Sosten Gwengwe has stressed the need to sensitize the media on Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Comesa (Comesa) programs.
Gwengwe made the remarks on Thursday when he officially opened the first ever National Capacity Building Workshop for Media Practitioners in Malawi.
He said the region needs a media that better understands the Comesa intergratiion configuration if it is to effectively disseminate information on regional and national development agenda to the public
“An enlightened citizenry is a key ingredient in our development process. Therefore a well informed media make well informed citizens,” he said.
He added that Malawi has benefited immensely from various programmes from Comesa like upgrading of Mchinji-Mwami One Stop Border Post (OSBP), development of Comesa electronic system, training of Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) officers, establishment of Leather Design Studio in Blantyre, procurement of sewing machines as well as construction of Comesa Cross Border Market among others.
Comesa Head-Corporate Communications, Mwangi Gakunga said the regional bloc recognizes and acknowledges the media as part of its key stakeholders whose contribution is invaluable to the success of regional intergratiion.
“Enlisting the media in the public awareness initiatives of our organization is an entrenched decision of the highest policy-making organs of Comesa,” he said.
Therefore, Mwangi explained that the Capacity building is important in that it will deepen the media’s understanding of the opportunities that regional intergratiion initiatives present to the economic development of the country and the region.
Representing the media, Media Council of Malawi (MCM) Executive Director Moses Kaufa commended Comesa and Ministry of Trade for empowering journalists with knowledge to understand and report better in Comesa intergration programs both at national and regional level.
