Chilima, celebrated SA brand architect Thebe in ‘Buy Malawi’ campaign
State Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and renowned global South African branding and reputation architect, Thebe Ikalafen, on Friday stressed on the need for Malawians to embrace the ‘Buy Malawi’ campaign.
The two made the call in Mangochi at the launch of 2017 Teveta National Executive Conference held at Makokola Retreat where Chief Executive Officers, Directors and Managers from about 40 private and public institutions gathered to share ideas on how best to survive under turbulent situations.
Chilima departed from his written speech at the onset and expressed his concern over how people, civil servants and those in private sector, at the conference were not abiding to the ‘Buy Malawi’ campaign despite calls by President Prof. Peter Mutharika and several reminders from the authorities on the same.
“Let me say that today being a Friday and with the ‘Buy Malawi’ campaign, where we are supposed to put on casual and traditional Malawi-made attire, I am not impressed with how the majority in this room have dressed,” said Chilima, who was dressed in ‘Buy Malawi’ attire, himself.
He added: “Although most of you here are from the private sector, you are Malawians and you need to abide by the call and as for civil servants it’s worse if you don’t.
“On a lighter note, next time we have a meeting like this one on a Friday, we will send everyone in an executive suit out and for civil servants you will start receiving warning letters before we send you home.”
Chilima’s call for ‘Buy Malawi’ campaign was cemented by the renowned global South African branding and reputation architect, Thebe Ikalafen, who was the guest speaker at the conference which was themed “Steering Organisations through Business Turbulence,”
Ikalafen stressed on the need for Malawians to promote their country and African continent by buying home made goods rather than goods imported from outside Malawi or Africa.
The celebrated brand and reputation architect who made a presentation on Innovative business practices for increased productivity in a turbulent business environment, said the ‘Buy Malawian’ strategy was aimed at not just promoting Malawi as a country, but protecting the country’s products and brand.
“The Buy Malawi strategy is very important for the country’s economy. If you don’t buy Malawian things, others will come and buy the same goods and sell them back to you at a higher price because you will have lost your brand as Malawi,” cautioned the guest speaker.
He further urged Malawian executive corporate gurus who gathered at the conference to promote Malawi as a country in all their brands, stressing that without putting Malawi first, all Malawians were nothing and that without putting Africa first, all Africans were nothing.
The conference brought together corporate giants from across the country and it was aimed at discussing how best industries, companies and institutions could survive turbulent times.
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