By Dean Chisambo
Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority ( MACRA) has embarked on telecommunication to manage and mitigate natural disasters which has hit this country for the past years frequently.
Speaking during SADC Model National Emergency Telecommunications Plan (NETP) and early warning for all awareness workshop Macra Director of telecommunication Edward Kauka said telecommunication serves as a purpose of communication when people are responding to disasters.
He disclosed that from 2019 – 2024 when the country experienced those natural disasters, telecommunication was there but in Zomba most of the telecommunication was washed away hence communication was not available in those areas.
Kauka said : ” We had to ask the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to send setlight phones which were used in those areas affected. This time around we have thought it wise that we can have this workshop where we can bang heads with our friends in SADC area to help us in terms of how to implement the national plan. “
On his sentiment SADC Senior programme officer in Information Communication Technology (ICT) Director of Infrastructure Dr George Ah – Thew said SADC as a region encounters two natural disasters per year hence Malawi,Mocambique, Zambia,Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Mauricius are areas in the region that are very prone to many disasters.
He said the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) set a guild line of how to establish an emergency communication plan, SADC secretariate requested ITU special favour to develop a regional model to help the member states domestically very quickly.
He further said SADC Model NETP was identified and approved because it has an impact on people’s lives now member states are domesticating very nice saying Malawi is on track.
The Model NETP workshop brought together countries from the SADC region except Botswana and Mocambique and Malawi through has already implemented the NETP.
 has embarked on telecommunication to manage and mitigate natural disasters which has hit this country for the past years frequently. Speaking…){kind=link}