Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas) will tomorrow launch a rain harvesting initiative dubbed Catch the Rain Campaign at its Blantyre campus.
Speaking in an interview, Associate Professor of Public and Environmental Health Sciences and Co-Principal Investigator of the SURG-Water Project Christabel Yolanda Kambala said the campaign is being implemented through the university’s School of Science and Technology and the SURG-Water Project. It seeks to encourage households, schools, institutions and communities to capture, store and sustainably use rainwater.
“We are targeting students, most of whom are youth. That is why we have decided to use music as a tool for awareness, behaviour change and community action,” she said.
Malawian musician Zeze Kingston features in a song under the campaign, encouraging people to stop allowing rainwater to simply run off and instead capture it for various uses.
Kambala added that harvested water can be used for household activities, sanitation, gardening, livestock and other productive purposes.
“We are encouraging young people to become champions of rainwater harvesting in their homes, schools and communities. We want them to embrace this culture. We have targeted students because they have the influence to promote the practice among their peers and communities,” she said.
Rainwater Harvesting Association of Malawi (RHAM) vice-president Augustine Masamba, who is also BASEflow on Integrated Water Resources Management programme associate, commended Mubas for involving students in the campaign.
“With shortages exacerbated by El Niño in Southern Malawi, involving youths in practical water solutions fosters innovation, environmental responsibility and ownership of water issues,” he said.
The launch will run from 1 pm to 5pm. Entry is free, and students will only be required to show their school IDs upon entry. The event will feature a dance challenge, fun games, and live performances by Zeze Kingston and Prince Chitz.
