The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation through its Development Broadcasting Unit (DBU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy have taken Ngwe Ngwe Ngwe Campaign to Kasungu.
The open day is being held at Chigandwa Primary School Ground, Traditional Authority Santhe in the district.
The initiative seeks to light up off-grid areas with affordable solar systems.
Director in the Ministry of Energy, Million Mafuta, said the ministry has taken an effort to ensure that suppliers in the Ngwe Ngwe Ngwe Campaign are supplying genuine products.
In her remarks, Director of News and Programmes at MBC, Zilani Khonje Phiri said MBC through the DBU, has taken the role of spreading Ngwe Ngwe Ngwe messages through open days and content development that is shared with community stations.
“MBC as a public broadcaster and through the DBU we have taken the responsibility of reaching out to the masses in remote and hard to reach areas. We are organising open days where Ministry of Energy officials and suppliers of solar systems are explaining to the people on various solar offerings they have and answering questions. We are also providing a platform where the villagers are asking the officials here tough questions,” said Phiri.
MBC driving the message home
According to Senior Chief Santhe, the intervention comes at a right time when students are preparing for their examinations.
“Soon students will be sitting for their exams. Having solar lights will help the students to study longer hours and do well in their examinations. I also thank President Dr Lazarus Chakwera for coming up with initiatives that seek to improve livelihoods of people in rural areas such as the Ngwe Ngwe Ngwe Campaign,” said Senior Chief Santhe.
One of the people who has bought his solar full set box comprising of a solar panel, solar controller and bulbs, Willard Chimbalu, said the solar system will help him in cutting some expenditures at his household.
“Solar is smart energy, now with this set I will be able to light up my house, charge phones and listen to the radio, previously I had to walk long distances just to have my phone charged,” said Chimbalu.
Ngwe Ngwe Ngwe Campaign is a Government of Malawi initiative being funded by the World Bank.
