Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) has described the media as part of the solution in the process of ending child marriage which is one of the gross child rights violations in Malawi.

YONECO board member, Joseph  Mshanga made the remarks at a media awards ceremony which was organized by YONECO in partnership with Media Advocates for the Advancement of Child Rights in Malawi.

“Child marriage is a very big problem in Malawi and it requires our serious attention and the role of the media cannot be overemphasized; it is quite critical and this should not be the end,” said Mshanga before a panel of five judges announced names of winners in print and electronic categories.

After the judges’ analysis and deliberation, Cassim Aubi of Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) emerged the winner in the electronic category and was seconded by Hassan Phiri of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).

In the print media category, Yamikani Yapuwa of Malawi News Agency (MANA) emerged as the winner with Mike Van Kamande, a Correspondent with Nation Newspapers Limited (NPL), as the second winner.

In his remarks, the representative from Media Advocates for the Advancement of Child Rights, Bashir Amin concurred with Mshanga by saying that the media exist to bring people’s attention to various ills of the society.

“The media is the mirror of the society, the significance of journalist cannot be overemphasized,  it brings  issues with the hope that the rightful authorities and the citizenry will pick them up and do the needful to address the issues,” he stressed.

In her acceptance speech, the first winner in the Print Media Category, Yamikani Yapuwa, said that she was so overwhelmed for being recognized as the best journalist.