LILONGWE (MaraviPost)–The country’s most strategic environmental media body, Association of Environmental Journalist in Malawi (AEJ) has ushered in new executive members to run the grouping for the next three years with a pledge to revive critical reporting on environmental issues affecting the general public.
The body’s AGM was held barely a year after it failed to do similar event in 2015 due to financial commitments. But this time was conducted successfully over past weekend AEJ which saw Malawi Broadcasting Corporations (MBC TV) News Anchor Mathews Malata taking the reigns of power from Emmanuel Muwamba to run the shows of the association.
The AEJ’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held in the capital Lilongwe attracted officials from Environmental Affairs Department (EAD), Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), Beautify
Malawi Trust, Malawi Environment Endowment Trust (MEET) and members from all regions of the country.
Speaking after gracing the event, Taonga Mbale, The Director for Environmental Affairs Department pledged to continue supporting the grouping by ensuring that its given access to information and other necessities in advancing on environmental critical reporting.
“Government is committed to work with this association and provide them with support because without them it would be very hard to win this battle against environmental degradation. Therefore, would like to encourage the association to report beyond by providing suggestions on how best they think government should intervene that together we can find ways and means of conserving our environment”, urges Mbale.
The Maravi Post later caught up with the newly elected president for AEJ, Malata who encouraged fellow scribes to develop critical articles which will trickle down pertinent issues affecting the public including improper waste disposal, deforestation among others.
Malata pledges that his leadership will ensure the team has resources to facilitate work in reaching all urgent concerns where objective reporting will be the core business for the promotion and management of the environment.
“One of the challenges the grouping has been facing all along is insufficient of resources due to economic woes the nation is currently going through which has also crippled media houses’ muscles to come up with investigative articles for policy change direction on the environmental sector. Therefore, under my leadership will lobby stakeholders to render their support towards the grouping’ implementation of its programs”, assures Malata.
Therefore, this is the full list of the new executive member of the EAJ; Mathews Malata is the president deputized by Wezie Nyirongo Chamanza (Capital FM Radio) whereby the position of the Secretary General goes to Charles Mkoka (Freelance Journalist) whose vice is Sellina Nkhonje (Times Group). Steve Chilundu (Nonm) is now the
Treasure General deputized by Pauline Patience Kaude (MANA) while committee members are Steve Zimba (Zodiak-), Angela Chapepa Banda (Nkhoma FM Radio), Nellie Kanyemba (MANA), Tikondane Vega Chiwambo
(MANA) and Sarah Tembo (Voice of Livingstonia Radio).
