Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima yesterday launched the Malawi Growth Development Strategy (MGD lll) Review Report on behalf of President Dr Lazarus Chakwera in Malawi’s Capital, Lilongwe.
According to Chilima, the report takes stock of the progress Malawi has made so far and challenges encountered along the way.
“Going through the Report, it is encouraging to note that sector Ministries, Departments and Agencies led the process in self-assessment. This is a commendable display of how various government departments can effectively collaborate,”
“I am advised that when the new Vision 2063 is launched, the MGDS III will be reviewed to ensure that it aligns to the new Vision and that only initiatives that are found to be working or promising quick wins are retained and scaled-up,” Chilima says.
According to the Vice President, this is the route Malawi has to take as a country.
“If we are to change economic fortunes of our country, we have to stop thinking short-term. Such thinking often satisfies political egos at the expense of our children’s future,”
“To this effect, the Tonse Alliance Government gives its full support to the National Planning Commission as it embarks on a crucial journey of defining the next long-term development plan that has been widely consultative for broad ownership,” Chilima says.
Chilima says the Tonse Alliance Government will fulfill its promises to develop the country.
“Solid foundations that will take us to the highway of inclusive wealth creation and self-reliance. Once the new Vision is launched, it will be incumbent on all political parties to align their party manifestoes to it. The battle during elections, therefore, will be on who is offering a manifesto that will meet the people’s aspirations in the new Vision,”
“As it stands, what is more noticeable is the fact that we have too many ‘flagship projects’ – most of which do not even fit the title. This has led to spreading resources so thinly with most of them just initiated and dying a natural death. If these resources were prioritized to focus on just few impactful long-term development projects, the impacts could be felt within a short time in the lives of most Malawians,” he says.
Chilima says he therefore calls upon the National Planning Commission, which is mandated to define the flagship projects for the country, to work closely with my ministry of Economic Planning and Development to ensure we focus on impactful long-term projects.
