VP Chilima talks tough on mindset change at IPMM Indaba

Malawians must change their mindset, transfom and accept that the time to reform the country is now or never, Vice President Saulos Chilima has said.

Chilima was speaking in Mangochi during an annual conference by the Institute of People Management Malawi (IPMM) in Mangochi on Friday.

IPMM, which has publicly endorsed support for the reforms agenda by the Mutharika administration, convened the meeting under the theme “HR Transformation and Innovation: The Key to Increasing Productivity at Work.

Chilima said the theme was more befitting and comes at an opportune time when the DPP government is appealing championing the  business unusual way of doing things for Malawi to develop.

“Business unusual approach means changing the mindset of workers from being mere followers in the workplace to becoming doers and innovative employees so that they help to grow their respective organizations,” Chilima told the HR managers.

The VP said he was very much aware of that people’s mindset was crucial in the implementation of the reforms.

“From the perspective of the public service reforms which I chair, we are fully aware that people are the lifeblood of any organization and that they are the agents of reform and renewal in public administration,” he said.

He said the HR managers have a crucial in championing change in the work places.

The charged up veep conceeded that change is difficult and painful but said as patriotic citizens there is need to die a little if we are to pass a better country to the next generation.

Making a power point presentation, the first Malawi VP to be doing this, Chilima played a clip of how an eagle endures transformation when faced with two options of death or survival.

The vedio clip showed how the eagle chooses to live another 30 years when old age catches up by going through a painful way of plucking off its beak, talons and feathers and wait for new ones to grow to start life afresh.

“This applies to us as Malawians. Let’s make tough and painful  decisions today if we are to develop. Things that we have done for the past 51 years haven’t changed us or heleped us so let’s join hands for once and reform for the better,” said  Chilima.

Sharing progress of the reforms, Chilima said it was encouraging that more and more people are embracing the reforms and that progress is being seen.

He likened the reforms to a train that has left the station and none will stop it except dropping those who don’t want to continue  and picking new willing passengers.

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