‘Knowledge is power’: Minister Phiri heads to China for governance masterclass

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Dr Ben Phiri has revealed he will spend the entire month of September in China, undergoing intensive training in governance and public administration at Peking University, alongside fellow leaders from 48 countries around the world.

In a Facebook post, Phiri said he had made the decision to dedicate his time to the programme in order to draw lessons from the Chinese government’s approach to governance, describing the opportunity as a valuable investment in knowledge.

“I have sacrificed my time to gain knowledge in governance and public administration, drawing lessons from the Chinese government and fellow leaders representing 48 countries around the world here at Peking University in China,” Phiri wrote.

He said the month-long programme would cover key areas including policy, leadership, local governance and development, describing the experience as an opportunity to gain “immense knowledge” in those fields.

Phiri closed his post with a reflection on the value of continuous learning. “Knowledge is power. I value it, and I have dedicated my time to it. Because the greatest investment you can make is in knowledge and it is never a waste,” he said.