Malawi urged to fight corruption, support post 2015 development agenda -Malawezi
The National Champion on post 2015 development agenda, former Vice President Dr. Justin Malewezi says it is imperative for Government, development partners and policy makers to assess performance of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the period before 2015 and accelerate their progress in the post 2015 period.
Malewezi was speaking in Mzuzu when he presented a key note address to the public and stakeholders at a day -long regional validation workshop on the post 2015 development agenda.
He said government should be in the forefront to accelerate progress in a bid to shape and develop an inclusive and sustainable post 2015 development agenda, noting that it was now less than two years to the 2015 deadline.
“The question that we need to ask ourselves is what proposed framework should the remaining years consist of? It is in this context that government in collaboration with the United Nations Country team is consulting stakeholders on the future that we want,” said Malewezi.
The former Vice President said there are a number of things that need to be considered for the post 2015 development agenda. Among others, he cited sustainable economic growth, poverty and hunger reduction as some of the most important challenges currently facing the country.
“Rapid pace of growth is unquestionably necessary for substantial poverty reduction, but for this to be sustainable in the long run, it should be broad-based across sectors and inclusive of the large part of the country’s labour force,” added Malewezi.
Malewezi also mentioned fight against corruption and good governance as integral parts of the post 2015 development framework.
He said corruption is recognised as an obstacle to development as it not only raises the costs of doing business leading to squandering of public resources, but is also corrosive to national consciousness.
Also present at the function was Deputy Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Khwauli Msiska who said defining common priority for Malawi in the post 2015 development agenda was vital as it would in identifying issues that need to be addressed before the millennium goals date expires.
He considered the stakeholders’ validation workshop very important in stimulating debate that would provide analytical input and ideas which would amplify voices of the people in the process, especially vulnerable groups so that they align with the development goals.
“Malawi is among the 50 countries that were chosen to do consultations on the post 2015 development agenda. Here in Malawi, we chose ten districts such as Chitipa, Karonga, Dowa, Salima Lilongwe, Ntcheu, Machinga, Mulanje Chikhwawa and Mwanza.
“Government in collaboration with United Nations worked together to come up with the findings gathered from various districts,” explained the economic deputy minister.
Earlier, Human Rights and Gender Equity Advisor for United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Musa Bullaleh, said as time was approaching 2015, it was necessary to define the next framework that would support the new development agenda at global level.
The aim of the validation workshop was to build a shared global vision on the ‘The Future We Want,” with recommendations to government, civil society and broad stakeholders on how to achieve them.
In September 2000, the UN Millennium Summit endorsed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Millennium Declaration. More than 180 countries signed the declaration including Malawi.
The objective of the summit was to set quantifiable and time-bound global development goals to end human suffering from hunger, destitution and disease, especially in developing countries.
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