By Margret Kalua

Nkhata Bay, May 15, Mana: Communications Manager for Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Bright Sonani has said the Authority was set to roll out physical house and property numbering exercise in Nkhata Bay District.

He said the exercise was under National Addressing System (NAS) project being implemented in the country.

Speaking on Tuesday during a NAS sensitization meeting in the district, Sonani asked for stakeholder collaboration in sensitizing communities about the exercise.

"We have been implementing the NAS project with several components namely; post codes, street naming, house and property numbering.

“We have solely come to sensitize and inform stakeholders at Nkhata Bay Boma that we are set to embark on physical house and property numbering in the district and any day we will be on the ground," he added.

Sonani urged local authorities to own the project and be in the forefront in preventing vandalism and theft of the physical NAS structures.

Principal Administration Officer for Nkhata Bay District Council, Moses Jere said the project was critical to development, saying it would improve service delivery and enhance timely response to emergencies.

"For council to do developmental activities, we need to know where people stay or can be found. Issues of response to health, communication, detection of criminal activities will be made easier," he said.

Senior Chief Nkumbira hailed MACRA for the project, saying it would act as a wakeup call for Nkhata Bay residents and chiefs to start building and allocating plots in line with development plans of the district.