Madinga calls for mindset change in developing Malawi: Mwapata Institute for home grown economic solutions

One of the Commissioners of The National Planning Commission (NPC), Phillip Madinga, has called for mindset change and concerted efforts from all Malawians to make sure the newly drafted vision for Malawi, the National Transformation 2063 is successfully realized.

Madinga: There is a pressing need for Malawians to change their mindset, develop self-esteem and start getting directly involved in activities aimed at developing the country.
Board Chair of Mwapata Policy Institute, Prof. Richard Mkandawire: Home grown economic solutions

Madinga made the remarks at the end of a two day National Development Conference, which was the first of its kind for Malawi, held in Lilongwe from August 27 to 28.

The conference brought together experts; Civil Society Organizations; stakeholders amongst others, to review national development plans and strategies in the National Transformation 2063.

It was also meant to validate emerging issues gathered during nationwide consultations the NPC made, on what kind of Malawi Malawians would like to see by the year 2063.

Madinga said the deliberations revealed that there is a pressing need for Malawians to change their mindset, develop self-esteem and start getting directly involved in activities aimed at developing the country.

“Some of the key messages that came out consistently throughout the conference were around how we Malawians can change our mindset as we envision the new future for our country, and for our children’s children.

“How do we become active citizens and stop being spectators because it is not going to be the donors or someone who is going to come and implement this,” he said.

Madinga said Malawians should borrow a leaf from developed countries who have managed to join hands and develop their countries on their own, with everybody’s participation.

“This is a call to all Malawians out there to say that it is not about the NPC nor the president and his vice, but it is about all Malawians coming together to make sure that what we have crafted in the new vision is realized, and it can only be done if we Malawians do it ourselves,” said Madinga.

The conference was held under the theme ‘Beyond Political Freedom to Inclusive Wealth Creation and Self Reliance.’

After consultations, stakeholders agreed to have a youth driven wealth creation and inclusive growth vision.

This has been anchored on three pillars; Agricultural commercialization, industrialization which includes mining, and urbanization which includes tourism.

Madinga said all the pillars are interlinked and in order to achieve these pillars, the conference also agreed upon seven enablers that have been adopted to help in achieving the key pillars.

“These are mindset change which includes a positive value system; human development which is gender sensitive and includes family planning; effective governance systems involving active citizen engagement; infrastructure development focusing on transport, energy and ICT; environmental sustainability; private sector dynamism and enhanced public sector performance,” said Madinga.

Dr Richard Mkandawire , a board chairperson of Mwapata Institute, which is a development policy think-tank working on finding solutions to national development,  said time is ripe for Malawi to use home grown research and innovations to speed up development  in the country.

“Days are gone that technologies and development solutions are dropped  from outside the country and letting others to think on our behalf.

“We have a huge reservoir  of think-tanks who can drive the transformational agenda,” said Mkandawire.

Mwapata Institute is an independent agricultural policy think tank that is engaging the government, private sector and civil society stakeholders in a program of applied policy analysis outreach, capacity building and policy coordination.

NPC director general Thomas Munthali called on academic institutions to 2align their research to the national agenda to really benefit the country.”

The draft vision which is replacing the Vision 2020 which is ending this year, will be submitted to parliament for approval before being rolled out early January 2021.

However, members of the general public and other stakeholders still have a window of around three weeks to also submit their suggestions into the new vision to the NPC.

President Dr Lazarus Chakwera opened the conference on Thursday with a call for all to get plans and developmental documents off the shelves and start walking the talk if Malawi is to develop.

Some of the panelists who made presentations during the conference include business consultant Henry Kachaje, agriculture expert, Professor Thom Jayne, retired Principal Secretary, Reverend Elsie Tembo who made a presentation on enhanced public sector performance, and Dr Henry Chingaipe on effective governance systems.

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Akulu
Akulu
3 years ago

Malawians very good at formulating policies koma implementation ha ndiyiona ine.. some will come and copy from us and prosper..

msundwe
msundwe
3 years ago
Reply to  Akulu

Rwanda copied our vision 2020 look at where they are and where we are. They came listened to the talk and asked for copies. We gave them for free

Bad Arse
Bad Arse
3 years ago

The very first thing to do is for people in positions like Madinga to explain their own wealth and assets. For our leaders past and present to do the same and then to undergo a total change of mindset so ad not to corruptly acquire wealth even by buying sequestrated properties from the bank at prices lower then the true value or by awarding contracts corruptly in return of bribes. Madinga made a fortune selling scarce forex to Faysal and buying properties from the bank.

Last edited 3 years ago by Bad Arse
Badder
Badder
3 years ago
Reply to  Bad Arse

Useless comment from a jealous individual. That salary leak still chaps your bad arse right. kikikik

Mdala
Mdala
3 years ago

In a society where already student can bribe their teachers and project manager
use their junior staff to steal, you need a change in mindset! We are rotten to the core!
Operation save our youth must be paramount!

Hypocrite Z
3 years ago

What is ‘mindset change’? What is ‘paradigm shift’? ……etc etc. [ Did the participants get ‘per diem’/allowances?]

Mbava
Mbava
3 years ago
Reply to  Hypocrite Z

If you don’t know what that means then there is no hope for you!

Andy
Andy
3 years ago

We cant develop if govt departments are so corrupt that they crash ones self esteem. It is a mountain to climb when dealing with capital hill or local govt personnel for clearances or approvals. There is no servant leadership mentality in them to encourage citizens to create wealth. They want to hijack on citizens investment initiatives and trade those to indians/Lebanese nationals in the country or request for a direct cut for themselves from your initiative. For every one step forward, there are two steps backwards inflicted by the corrupt civil servant on a citizen’s effort to build the economy.… Read more »

Destroyer of liars
3 years ago

What exactly is it that was discussed at this meeting that has never been discussed before in other failed development plans like vision 2020? Can mindset alone without political will change things in Malawi? You have deliberately chosen 2063 knowing very well that most facilitators of the workshop and those who identified the Key results areas will not be in this world and will not account for their failed vision. Wouldn’t 2040 have been ideal for implementation of this vision. Today’s youth shall be senior citizens by that time, shaa. Apa mwatichenjelera a National Planning commission.

M'malawi weni-weni
M'malawi weni-weni
3 years ago

Totally agree.
An internal vision 43 years ahead indicates that we have no realizable aspirations but hallucinations.

And none of the components of this vision are new. Mindset change has been highlighted since the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) of 1994/95. Mining and tourism have always been part of every past development plans.

Two things have missing and always missed from Malawi’s development plans: funding ideas and clear distribution of implementation responsibilities of these castles in the air ideas.

Mbava
Mbava
3 years ago

You totally missed the point!

Destroyer of liars
3 years ago
Reply to  Mbava

Which point am I missing if you may come out clear?

Nyekhwe
Nyekhwe
3 years ago

Read the article again with an objective mind, you will see just what you missed, you are the kind of people who drag other people down with negativity

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