Some Catchment management committees under the Enhanced Public Works Programme (EPWP) in Lilongwe have commended the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC)for the initiative of documentary screening in their areas saying it is a good way of learning and adopting new technologies others are practicing.

NLGFC engaged District Information Officers(DIOs) in from 10 districts to visit the micro-catchment committees in the districts and showcase a Njira documentary filmed in Machinga and Balaka showcasing initiatives people in those areas have undertaken.

For many years Malawi has experienced environmental degradation that has contributed to poverty in many areas.

Though interventions to improve land degradation have been implemented, many people in the rural areas have been struggling to provide for themselves and the environmental degradation has resulted in  people  walking long distances to fetch firewood or water and  harvesting less food.

The Kubwenzeletsa Chilengedwe documentary showcases how fellow Malawians have been able to reverse the trend by working together as community in managing and conserving soil and water.

One of the beneficiaries in the EPWP project,  Mazon Manufuledi from Linthipe catchment committee in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chitekwere said most times when communities fail to implement new technologies, it is not because they are not committed, but they lack practical expriences to motivate and inspire them.

Manufuledi said that the Njira documentary has ignited passion to bring change to their community but also ownership of the projects.

"This is the first documentary am watching and I have been greatly challenged. This has encouraged me to personally commit towards the project."

"What people of Machinga and Balaka have shown us in the documentary has inspired us to follow the footsteps. I am so certain that we can also do what our friends have done," said Manufuledi.

He said the documentary has proved to them that it is possible to conserve the environment within their areas and improve their lives.

Another beneficiary under Kavunde catchment in T/A M'bang'ombe Lilongwe, Nyoki Maupo said most times they wait for organizations and the council staff to take lead in things benefitting the communities hence sustainability is always a challenge.

Maupo said the documentary was an eye opener and that they would want to start implementing what they learnt as soon as possible.

"We fail to own the projects that are brought to us because we have that mentality of wanting someone to push us. This is what has failed us all these years because we feel that those that introduce the projects to us should also push for sustainability forgetting that it is for our own benefit," said Maupo.

He commended NLGFC for the timely motivation adding that their lives will never be the same again and that they will do more than what people in the documentary have done.