By Chisomo Phiri
Director of Development Planning at the National Planning Commission (NPC),Dr. Grace Kumchulesi says the commission has started collaborating with religious leaders across the country to promote awareness and ownership of the Malawi 2063 vision.
Speaking to journalists in Blantyre on Thursday,Kumchulesi said the initiative aims to encourage citizens to take an active role in the country’s development, fostering a mindset shift towards work creation and self-reliance.
She said the engagement with religious leaders is expected to increase ownership and promote a positive attitude towards development.
While progress has been made,Kumchulesi acknowledged that more work needs to be done to achieve the vision.
She said:”To track progress, the NPC has developed a monitoring dashboard, which provides access to cross-sectoral data on Malawi’s socioeconomic development.
“The dashboard is part of the Malawi 2063 First 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1), which runs from 2021 to 2030.
“The NPC is optimistic that once citizens believe in the possibility of achieving the Malawi 2063 vision, they will be more likely to participate in the country’s development.”
On his part,Presidential Advisor on Religious Affairs Reverend Brian Kamwendo emphasized the crucial role of religious leaders in shaping public opinion and promoting socio-economic development in the country.
He noted that religious leaders have a unique advantage in influencing their followers, who often regard their messages as authoritative and trustworthy.
Rev Kamwendo appealed to faith leaders to preach messages of hope, positivity, and prosperity, while avoiding disinformation and misinformation.
He also emphasized the importance of promoting peace and self-reliance, particularly in the lead-up to the 2025 general elections.
The Malawi 2063 vision, launched in 2021, outlines a roadmap for Malawi to become a self-reliant, upper-middle-income nation by 2063, with a minimum per capita income of $4,000.
The vision is built on three key pillars: Inclusive Wealth and Self-Reliance, Urbanization, and a Vibrant Knowledge-Based Economy.
