Monday, May 23, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Columns Emily Mkamanga

Vision necessary for development

by Nation Online
05/09/2021
in Emily Mkamanga
4 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

It must be understood that development starts at a local level before it shows at the national level. For development to happen, there must be some implementable vision by leaders at all levels. As such, leaders must be prepared to have some vision.

It is a well-known fact that during elections aspiring members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors are elected based on what they are able to offer voters. Of course, they do not necessary have special gifting although they try to show that they have monopoly of wisdom.

Some people believe them and offer them front seats at functions, including church services.  As if the front seat is not enough, they give them an opportunity to address people.  In so doing, some expose their ignorance. It is obvious some people go into leadership positions to get money without necessarily working for it.

Our councillors seem to have no clear vision on how they can use public funds to develop their wards. As expected, they complain that money is not enough. What is usually seen is that money end up being wasted at the council level with no tangible development on the ground.

Our councils, too, seem to find it hard to deliver quality services to residents. For example, rubbish is rarely collected.

Street vending has become a norm as councils helplessly watch vendors doing business on the streets. They try to chase them, but to no avail. The councils should accept their failure and consult other people, including vendors themselves, to end street vending. Off the cuff, the answer seems to be contact and dialogue.

Anything about vendors should involve vendors themselves. It is naïve to think that just building a market would make vendors ply their trade in the markets.

Honestly, we need to review the quality of councillors we elect.  This idea of just putting anyone on the position will not help the councils.

In Zambia, only those with knowledge and who own property in towns or cities contest for councillorship. This is because councillors should understand basic things such as the implication of raising city and town rates.

In Malawi, some councillors live in rented houses. So, how can they meaningfully deliberate on issues happening in wards?

With all due respect, the quality of our councillors leaves a lot to be desired.  It goes without saying that Malawi needs participatory development. 

Some think only President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice-President Saulos Chilima should develop this country. The vision of the presidency to develop this country depends on the willingness, participation and collaboration of the citizenry.

We have had governments with visions in the past, but they did not achieve much because wrong people were engaged to deliver the vision. For example, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration engaged cadets. Unfortunately, the cadets had misconceptions about Peter Mutharika’s vision and the DPP development agenda for this country. They could not translate the vision into development. As a result, DPP failed to develop Malawi.

The quality of our parliamentary debates also needs to be reviewed. People are sick and tired of monotonous questions. Some MPs go to Parliament just to ask for roads, bridges and school blocks. But there is more to being a legislator than just making requests.

They can easily get answers to issues they raise outside Parliament and use the House for more productive business. This also applies to Cabinet ministers. They should not always appear to be in a hurry, but they should understand what is happening in their ministries. It is important that we all understand the vision of this country to participate in its development agenda.

Previous Post

Victoria mwafulirwa: award winning agri-entrepreneur

Next Post

There must be unity in our diversity

Related Posts

Emily Mkamanga

Malawi’s potential alone means nothing

November 28, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Wrong deals contribute to poverty

November 21, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Wrong deals contribute to poverty

November 14, 2021
Next Post

There must be unity in our diversity

Opinions and Columns

People’s Tribunal

What was that press briefing all about?

May 22, 2022
Big Man Wamkulu

Wife, in-law plotting my downfall

May 22, 2022
My Thought

Tonse Alliance died on arrival

May 22, 2022
Layman's Reflection

New IMF programme pivotal moment for Tonse Alliance

May 21, 2022

Trending Stories

  • Musician Martse in hospital after fire accident

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Malawi overlooks players diet

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How loans get wasted

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gaba comes up with two options

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Onesimus leaves Major One Records

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Malawi-Music.com Top10

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.