The 8th Dynamic Leaders and Gatekeepers Forum (DLGF) opened yesterday at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe with a strong call for resilience and national renewal amid mounting social and economic challenges in the country.
Delivering the keynote address, DLGF chairperson and host Reverend Zacc Kawalala said Malawi is at a crossroads, with every sector under pressure. He urged faith, business and civic leaders and gatekeepers to remain resilient and embrace the opportunity to rebuild the nation.
processes. | Milimo chitsulo
He said: “Malawi has been independent for many years. We have scholars—very learned people like professors and doctors in economics. … But we still borrow instructions and models that are not original to the Malawi economy. We can’t continue with neo-economic colonialism, where someone who used to come to scramble for resources in Africa, went back home and is now just coming to tell us what to do. It’s not the way to go. So, we need our own home-grown processes.
He added: ‘’I give an example of Kenya in terms of the Government-to-Government model. Countries like Uganda, Zambia and Mozambique are now copying the Government-to-Government model from Kenya. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank community completely shunned Kenya but that approach assisted the country in strengthening its shilling against the dollar.’’
Kawalala also noted that Malawians don’t love their country.
‘’The problem in Malawi is that we are not patriotic. We are individualistic. We forget that when one rises, we all rise. Malawi stands at a crossroads, as every sector faces challenges.
“But amid the turmoil lies an opportunity for patriotic Malawians to change and rebuild the nation. Our God still loves us. Consider the peace and other blessings we enjoy. This gathering is a sign that there are Malawians who still have hope for a better Malawi,” he explained.
Speaking on the sideline of the forum, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola-Banda said he was happy that almost every Malawian now understands the need to use home-grown economic theories.
‘’Time is long gone that we can still depend on economic theories that do not work in Malawi. The economic context of our country requires that we make bold decisions in terms of looking at what theories do not work and the ones that can benefit Malawians.’’ he said
This year’s forum was being held under the theme ‘Revitalising the Economy: Investing in a Stronger and More Sustainable Future’, which organisers said responds directly to the country’s need for long-term economic stability, inclusive growth, and recovery from recent shocks.
The forum drew participants from a cross-section of Malawian society, including faith leaders, business executives, development practitioners and senior government officials. Discussions mainly focused on economic stewardship, ethical leadership and institutional reform.
