Zomba councillors told to disclose projects
National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust says councillors should disclose projects they implement in their areas if they are to be accountable to their subjects.
Nice Zomba district civic education officer Albertina Nsongolo said this on Tuesday when the trust, in conjunction with National Media Institute of Southern Africa (Namisa), drilled Zomba City Council (ZCC) councillors on how they can engage the media in the development of the city.
She said Nice appreciates the role the media play in the consolidation of democracy and how it helps to bring active participation of citizens in governance issues.
Misa Malawi national director Aubrey Chikungwa told the councillors not to fear journalists, but treat them as development partners.
He said councillors can benefit from journalists if they can approach them and be available for interviews on development issues.
“If councillors fail to get interviews from journalists they [media]will use information from communities which might not be accurate,” said Chikungwa.
ZCC Mayor Melia Douglas described the training as a driving force to development in the city.
“ZCC is committed to engage the media in its activities to strengthen and deepen democracy and development of the city,” she said.
A similar training session also took place in Blantyre. n
