By Suleman Chitera

Ntchisi, Malawi – The Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) has called on community journalists in Ntchisi District to use their platform to encourage active citizen participation and foster good governance in their communities. MHRRC Capacity Development Associate Noel Msiska made this appeal during a recent training session aimed at empowering community journalists to cover stories that highlight local governance issues and promote engagement from citizens.

Msiska emphasized that community journalists play a crucial role in holding local authorities accountable and creating a demand for improved service delivery. “Community journalists are instrumental in addressing pressing issues within their communities. Through their stories, they can raise awareness and push for change where it’s needed most,” he noted.

One of the participants, Laston Kapatamoyo, expressed his appreciation for the training, acknowledging its potential impact on their work. “This training will equip us to better promote community involvement and bring attention to issues affecting Ntchisi,” Kapatamoyo said.

The training is part of MHRRC’s ongoing project titled Enhancing Citizen Participation in Local Governance and Development Processes, which targets Dowa, Nsanje, and Ntchisi districts. Funded by Norwegian Church Aid and Dan Church Aid (NCADCA), the project aims to strengthen the capacity of local journalists to foster transparency and accountability in local governance, ultimately empowering citizens to take an active role in shaping the future of their communities.