Mzuzu-based journalists shelve pens and notepads to plant trees

MALAWI: In an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change, a group of journalists in Mzuzu City took time on Saturday to plant trees at a primary school on the city's outskirts.

The journalists who are members of the Nyika Media Club ( NMC), a group of journalists in Malawi's Northern Region, planted 800 seedlings of pine trees at Msonda and Nsiro primary schools in the city's Mchengautuba Township.

Following the exercise, the grouping's chairperson, Joseph Mwale, stated that the activity was a response to the climatic effects that are currently affecting the entire country.

"As part of the efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, we can't just keep on writing without practically contributing towards tree planting. So, that's why we are here today. We secured some trees so that we still move towards reducing the effects of climate change," said Mwale.

Lot Mhone, the Primary Education Advisor (PEA) for the Kaviwale Education Zone, where the schools are located, acknowledged the gesture and stated that trees are a valuable resource that must be cared for as part of environmental management.

Mhone said: "Trees are a resource that is very much needed in our schools. They assist us as a windbreak; they are also a source of money and when they grow we also use them to renovate our schools."

As a result of climate change, Malawi has recently been hit hard by persistent cyclones.

Malawi's national tree planting season runs from December to April each year. This year's season will officially end on Friday, April 15th.