LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Ministry of Lands has emphasized the crucial role the media plays in informing the public about land administration and management.

Speaking at a sensitization meeting for senior news editors in Salima, Commissioner for Physical Planning, Robins Lukasi, highlighted the importance of media collaboration in promoting transparency and accountability in land management.

Lukasi noted that the media is a powerful tool for education, advocacy, and change, and the ministry recognizes its vital role in disseminating information to the public.

“The media is not just a channel for news: It is a powerful tool for education, advocacy, and change,” Lukasi emphasized.

The meeting aimed to equip media professionals with knowledge on land reforms, Land Information Management System, and devolution of land administration to local councils.

Lukasi urged the media to produce balanced and impartial news and feature articles, as well as radio and television documentaries, covering these areas.

“We need your expertise in crafting narratives that resonate with the public, we need your investigative skills to uncover the truths behind land management issues, and we need your platforms to amplify the voices of those who have been unheard,” Lukasi said.

The Ministry of Lands values transparency and accountability, and Lukasi assured the media that the ministry remains committed to providing information whenever contacted.

Media practitioners who attended the meeting welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely effort to bridge the information gap between the ministry and land users.

Tione Andsen, Managing Editor of Malawi News Agency, said the training has been helpful in understanding the devolution process and land laws.

Wycliffe Njiragoma of Nation Publications Limited added that the sensitization meeting is essential in equipping the media with the right tools to report accurately and critically on land issues.

“Given how deeply land issues affect livelihoods, identity, and development in Malawi, our ability to report accurately, critically, and contextually is vital,” Njiragoma said.

The Ministry of Lands’ initiative to engage with the media demonstrates its commitment to transparency and accountability in land management.

By working together, the ministry and the media can promote informed public discourse and ensure that land administration serves the needs of all Malawians.