Hail climate information centres

Experts have tipped people in disaster-prone districts to make use of climate information centres that have been established in their areas for the country to mitigate loss of life and property during disasters.

Senior meteorologist in the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Lovemore Kaisi said this on the sidelines of Nsanje district’s information centre demonstration day last week.

He added that the centres have been established to ensure improved flow of weather and climate change information.

“Communities in the country have not been accessing such information timely, something which has led to failure to reduce loss of life and property in cases of weather related disasters,” he explained.

He further said they have since established centres in seven selected disaster-prone districts including Nsanje so that communities in the villages know what is happening on weather and climate change. He then challenged people in the seven districts to patronise the centres so they are well equipped with information on weather and climate issues.

“In these centres, there are facilities such as computers meant for weather data communication from Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services headquarters.

“These centres also provide the information to communities through community radio stations. You will also find pamphlets, booklets, posters and brochures on weather and climate related information,” he said.

Mbenje Area Civil Protection Committee (ACPC) secretary Isaac Falakeza hailed the establishment of the centres.

He said it has been difficult for people in the Shire Valley to access weather and climate change information timely, resulting in their failure to mitigate the impact of weather-related disasters.

Apart from Nsanje, the centres have also been established in Chikwawa, Mulanje, Zomba, Salima, Kasungu and Karonga

This is a pilot program being implemented by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services with funding from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).