The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has commenced a five-day media workshop in Mazabuka designed to strengthen the capacity of journalists in reporting on critical social protection programmes.

The workshop, held under the GRZ–UN Joint Programme on Social Protection, has brought together media professionals from Southern Province to enhance coverage of various departmental social protection programmes such as the Social Cash Transfer, Food Security Pack, child safeguarding, registration of Non-Governmental organizations among others.

The media training builds on a similar workshop held last week in Kabwe, where journalists from Lusaka were trained in social protection reporting.

During the official opening today, the Ministry’s Principal Planner, Ms. Weka Banda, underscored that social protection is not only a government responsibility but also a fundamental human right that requires collaboration among all stakeholders.

She explained that the revised National Social Protection Policy adopts a lifecycle approach to ensure support is provided at every stage of life.

Mrs. Banda added that the training is expected to equip journalists with practical knowledge and skills to report accurately and responsibly on government programmes, while fostering accountability and raising public awareness of available social services.

And YG FM editor, Mr Moono Moonje has hailed the Ministy and Cooperating Partners for organizing the media training which he says will play a critical role in promoting accurate and ethical reporting of various social protection programmes among media practitioners.