Kachaje says entrepreneurship key to Malawi change agenda
Managing Director of Business Consult Africa (BCA) Henry Kachaje says entrepreneurship is the missing key to unlocking the country’s untapped socioeconomic prosperity.
Speaking during the official launch of United Democratic Front’s (UDF) Jubilee Movement in Blantyre on Wednesday, Kachaje said in the first 20 years of multiparty democracy Malawi lost some values that were important to sustainable economic growth.
“We lost some values that are so critical to sustainable economic growth. Even during the first 30 years of an independent Malawi, entrepreneurship was never promoted and encouraged.
“We therefore need to promote values that will spur the spirit of entrepreneurship and an enterprising culture, especially amongst our young people who will shape Malawi in the next 50 years,” he said.
He further said there was need for Malawi to introduce deliberate and focused programs to grow an enterprising culture and promote entrepreneurship thereby achieving a sustainable socioeconomic development in the next 50 years.
“There is need for change of mindset, change of thinking and change of work ethics. And there is no better way to do this other than through entrepreneurship. When we promote entrepreneurship, we will reap a developed nation,” he added.
Values
Following are the values, Kachaje said, are vital to the creation of an enterprising culture;
The Value of Self-reliance: “entrepreneurship encourages the spirit of self-reliance and this nation desperately needs this value.”
The Value of Hard Work: “entrepreneurs take charge of their destiny through hard work. They realize that nothing much will happen unless they make things happen.”
The Value of Savings and Investment: “to grow an economy, you need savings, and the savings must be re-invested wisely. Entrepreneurship is built on these values.”
The Value of Creativity and Innovation: “there is talk about value addition. This requires creativity and innovation. This must be deliberately promoted and encouraged.”
The Value of Team Work: “more can be achieved if we, as Malawians learn to work together on positive and developmental issues.”
The Value of Long-Term Planning: “nothing substantial can be achieved without long term planning and perspective. Malawi needs to embrace the notion of long-term planning. We need to see the Malawi we desire to have fifty years from today and put in place plans that will create the enabling environment for such ambitious dreams and aspirations.”
Jubilee
UDF 2014 presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi launched Jubilee Movement, a grouping the party said is set to champion transformation change.
Muluzi said the movement is a revolution which aims to make people’s aspirations and dreams a reality by making Malawi a food-secure nation, providing high quality education and good health care, among others.
He said there was need to identify drivers of the change and invest in the young generation.
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