District Commissioner for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko, has emphasised the need for collaboration in protecting weather equipment taking into account the rate of vandalism in the district.
He was speaking at Victoria Hotel in Blantyre over the weekend when he engaged stakeholders in the district to brief them on construction of a weather radar site at Kasamba Hill, Traditional Authority (TA) Chigaru in the district.
The equipment, which is being built under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP), will be used in weather forecasting covering a distance of over 200 kilometres.
Mdooko described the project as important noting that it will not only be used in TA Chigaru but also other areas.
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He explained that the radar, is expected to benefit the country as other existing ones are currently not in service hence the need to protect the equipment.
“These days people see everything that is in metal state as capital. So, my plea is that we should work together to stop vandalism of the equipment and others already on the ground,” Mdooko added.
Blantyre District Council Principal Environmental Officer, Maxwell Mbulaje, said the radar will help in weather forecasting and improve early warning.
“Previously, we have been affected by various natural disasters and the coming of this weather radar will improve early warning thereby protecting lives and property,” he said.
According to Mbulaje construction of the radar started in July and is in progress.
TA Chigaru expressed gratitude for the development and assured Blantyre District Council of his commitment to protect the site from vandalism.
“We warmly welcome this development. I will lead all chiefs in Blantyre in protecting this machine,” he said.
