The Ministry of Green Economy has pledged to support creatives that package information about climate change In an artistic manner in order to appeal to the public.
Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu emphasised the need to sponsor young artists and poets because they communicate better to the community through songs and poetry.
Nzovu revealed that poor people are the most affected by climate change and it is through songs, and music that they get awareness of the topic better.
He said this during the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) art cocktail hosted by Kalemba, in collaboration with the Free Press Initiative (FPI) under the support of HIVOS in Lusaka on Thursday evening.
The event was held in commemoration of the Africa climate week which commences next week on August 25 to September 2, 2022.
The evening was pleasant packed with great performances from the young creatives who crafted their concerns on climate in great prices of poetry and music.
Furthermore, the creatives launched the music video for their climate anthem called Tigwilizane Manja (let’s work together) to combat climate change.
Nzovu was impressed at how informative the young artist were about climate action.
And that they used the knowledge to create appealing messages to the masses through their creativity.
He encouraged the young artistes to get the advocacy strategy developed by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment so that they may be more informative.
Meanwhile, the artists highlighted some action key asks to Nzovu such as the introduction of plastic tax to curb plastic pollution, the promotion of research, financing of agriculture diversity and the support towards the development of early warning systems, among many.
The minister said Zambia is on the verge of banning plastics completely because other parts of the world have already started working towards that goal.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Information and Media Chusi Kasanda expressed delight that Kalemba is implementing the strengthening of digital media through climate social activism.
Kasanda said it was unusual that a media organisation could take up a leading role in promoting climate activism.
She urged other media organisations to emulate what Kalemba was doing.
The minister challenged Kalemba and the young creatives to focus on rural areas starting, including her constituency – Chisamba.
“We only have one Zambia…. it doesn’t matter what your status is; what matters is that we under an umbrella called Zambia,” Kasanda said
She added that it was everyone’s responsibility to work together in making Zambia great.
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba August 30, 2022
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