Mutharika opens Naminjiwa Community College: Calls on Malawians to accept reforms

President Peter Mutharika has asked Malawians to unite for a common purpose and accept the reforms his administration is championing to transform the country.

Mutharika said this when he officially opened Naminjiwa Community College in Phalombe district on Wednesday.

The opening of the college also marked the launch of the Community Technical Colleges (CTC) programme in the southern region.

Similar programmes were launched at Ngala in Karonga, northern region and Mponela in Dowa, central region, respectively.

Mutharika told the gathering that the community colleges will create new skills, decent jobs, new businesses, and new industries.

He said every constituency must have a community college to lift the country out of poverty.

Mutharika then called Malawians to support and embrace the community college concept.

“The quality of products I have seen on display clearly demonstratesthat we can make Malawi an exporting economy. Yes we can! We can create more jobs, create more wealth and reduce our dependence on importing. That we can! And we must!

“But this country will not move forward if we do not unite on a common purpose. Sometimes, we know what we don’t want; but we don’t know what we want. We know we don’t want poverty. But are we ready to do what it takes to get out of poverty?We want transformation leadership to change this country. But when transformation comes, we don’t want to accept reforms.

“We know we don’t want basic leaders who lack imagination of a higher vision for this country. But when a visionary leader comes, we are happy to demonise him and undermine his leadership. What do we really want as a people?,” wondered Mutharika.

He said the programmes has received overwhelming local and international support with the European Union and the World Bank pledging resources in support of this program.

Mutharika also claimed that  the Chinese government has agreed to construct five new Community Technical Colleges in this country.

“This country will not change if we the people don’t change. And there is nobody else who can change you but yourself. Developing this country depends on nobody but you and I.

“The Community Colleges Program has a very high capacity to reduce poverty. Evidence all over the world has shown that the only sure way of ensuring sustainable poverty eradication is by creating jobs. However, this will not happen unless you support and embrace the vision as your own. I began the vision, but now this is your vision – our vision together,” asserted Mutharika

He also appealed to all Malawians “not be derailed”, but they should rather “keep moving with one spirit, as one people, to one destiny”, describing the community college as a symbol of that development.

Mutharika also hailed the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) for the donation of a complete ICT Center at this college, which opened its doors in February this year.

Eleven colleges have so far been opened across the country.