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More thinking, more feedback

We are finally in the New Year 2015. In the spirit of first things first, let me start by once more wishing you all, dear readers, a happy New Year 2015.

Every Wednesday in the past year, 2014, we shared, through this column, some ideas on how to improve things in our country through critical thinking. This year is no exception either as we will continue on this journey in a bid to make Malawi a better place to live in.

They say that communication is a two-way process; hence, in the same vein, let me continue from where I stopped in the my last entry by sharing with the larger constituency some feedback I received in the course of 2014.
Here we go:

Writing from Lilongwe, Francis Mkoloma said: “I remember one outgoing resident officer at the European Union commenting that ‘this country requires the likes of a dictator to move it forward’.

“We seem to be so much ingrained into this animal called freedom and politics of winning the next election, but not trying to put the country in the right track.  Rwanda, as a nation which was 20 years ago struggling to survive from its worst genocide, is a gem of the world in development. This is all because the President [of Rwanda] talks and acts tough and gets results. I think it is time the nation changed its acts and I think this is the best time to revolutionise the country and change things for the better.

“The example given [in the article] at the football stadium is a very sad event that the leadership in the police and political arena need to take note of with seriousness it deserves for this country to move forward. There will be a lot of detractors in the way of trying to positively develop this country for the better just because these people benefit from such wanton activities.

“Any one with the patriotic heart for this nation of ours would support your comments. Let us enter the year 2015 with one focus to develop and uplift the livelihood of the nation. No one is above the law, and respect for ones job is very important.  Indeed courage boss, courage is what you should have.”

And in a brief feedback to the article ‘Death comes before dishonour’,  lawyer Ambokire Salimu said: “I have always read your column but today’s is the best in the subject matter tackled and the incisiveness of its delivery!”

Commenting on my October 1 entry, ‘Time to diversify our portifolio’, John Msiska said: “Hello Wilkins, your  ‘Leadership 101’ entry of 1st October with the heading above is inspiring and can’t go without my comments.I felt duty bound as a Mwian to add my voice to it.

“You see, I also find the Fisp [Farm Input Subsidy Programme] thing as eating too much into our national/fiscal budget. Fisp also is advancing a culture of laziness amongst our people,especially those rural and “needy” farmers.
“It’s a undeniable fact that if as a nation we can invest the whole or a fraction of the money spent on Fisp on more productive sectors of the economy,this country can surely make great strides in development.

But it seems our politicians and those policy makers are so obsessed with this Fisp thing to the extent that they begin to see it a tool for their political survival.

“I also agree with you that Fisp would have more economic sense if its beneficiaries graduated to independence each year.

“It’s either we do away with the subsidies and indeed diversify our portfolio or remain in this impoverished state as a nation for ever.”

Reginald Mumba reacted to the article on ‘Tourism in Malawi’ and shared his views as follows: “Thanks for your article  which appeared in The Nation newspaper today. I agree with you that there is a lot of talk, but little is being done in the tourism industry. There is an adage which says: ‘If you want more of the same, do nothing’.

“Did you know that because of the poor road condition, trees have started growing in the road to Nyika National Park? Funding to most national parks is pathetic, resulting in weak law enforcement, and this has led to massive poaching of wildlife animals.

“One observation is that most senior members of staff in the public service spend too much time attending meetings within town, forgetting what has to be done in the field such as inspecting roads etc.”

Thank you for the feedback. Please keep it flowing in the year 2015, I do not take your support for granted.

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