By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, February 10, Mana: National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has hailed community radio stations in the country for playing an important role in ensuring their surrounding communities are well informed on government policies and projects being implemented in their areas.

NLGFC Knowledge Management and Communication Specialist, Hamilton Chimala said this on Friday when officials from NLGFC and Lilongwe district council had an interface meeting with members of the community of Mlinde catchment area in the area of Traditional Authority Malili in the district.

Chimala said it was pleasing to hear that through the programmes aired on community radios such as M’bwezela Zachilengedwe, members of the communities are able to understand and make use of the critical knowledge aired in such programmes.

“We are happy that through these programmes we introduced in October last year, members of the community are able to change their mindset and make use of the knowledge such as planting trees, making swales, check dams and many more.

“We are airing these programmes on nine community radios on pilot phase, but with the information we have got in Kasungu and Lilongwe, I think there is need to scale-up these programmes on community radios for the benefit of rural masses,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries in Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, Lucia Banda said through the programmes aired on community radios, they have been able to construct swales, check dams and planting trees which she said have assisted in reducing natural disasters.

“Through these programmes we are able to learn and make use of the important information from our friends,” she said.

Nkhoma Community Radio Producer and Presenter Abel Kafera thanked NLGFC for entrusting Nkhoma community radio to be part of the community radios airing programmes of M’bwezela Zachilengedwe which he said has assisted several communities in Lilongwe in different ways.

Kafera said many people are able to get the information through community radios because their programmes are being aired in vernacular.

“The only problem we have as community radios is inadequate resources, but we are able to influence a large audience within short period of time,” he said.