The National Planning Commission (NPC) yesterday challenged parliamentarians to tame the handout spirit if the country is to attain economic independence and wealth creation as espoused in the Malawi 2063 (MW2063).
NPC board chairperson Professor Richard Mkandawire said this at Parliament Building in Lilongwe yesterday during the presentation of the MW2063 document to members of Parliament (MPs) and Parliament staff to popularise the national development blueprint among MPs and their constituents.
He said the National Assembly is key to the successful implementation of the new document and the eventual wealth creation and self-reliance agenda that it propagates.
Said Mkandawire: “The successful implementation of MW2063 will be dependent on a robust value system that will focus on hard work, integrity, patriotism and disdain for handouts.
“The onus is on us all to instil a culture of change in mindset within the constituents so that we build a Malawi that prides in its own capabilities to inclusively create wealth and be self-reliant.”
He advised MPs that the MW2063 will now act as a guiding tool for ensuring that development plans at national, district and constituency levels are being formulated according to the overall national development aspirations.
Mkandawire said MPs’ thorough knowledge of the pillars and enablers of the MW2063 will ensure that funds are directed towards initiatives that create value for money in the budgets, laws and loans that they approve.
On her part, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara said the presentation of the document will help legislators to understand, appreciate, own and champion the implementation of the MW2063 in the advancement of development.
She said as MPs from various political parties, they will ensure that MW2063 is a living document and a reference point in the performance of legislative functions.
Hara said: “Honourable members will ensure that Parliament passes legislation that reflects the needs and interests of the people of Malawi in order to support the realisation of MW2063.
“As parliamentarians we have a role to make sure that government allocates enough resources to the implementation of the 2063 Vision”.
Government launched the MW2063, which is a successor to Vision 2020, in January this year.
