By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, January 14, Mana: Traditional Authority (TA) Mphomwa of Kasungu says civic education institutions must ensure that there is intensified sensitisation and awareness on the Malawi 2063 (MW2063) so that every person participates towards its realisation.

He said this in Kasungu on Saturday during a day-long training for District Advisory Forum (DAF), an advisory volunteer structure under the National Initiative Civic Education (NICE) Trust.

Mphomwa, who is also the DAF Chairperson, said while the people are aware of the country’s ambitious development blueprint, they need more information on how they can contribute towards its realisation.

He said: “Along the road to 2063, there are many opportunities that have to be exploited by everyone at every level. People must be told that this is not a government agenda, but their own roadmap that can lift them out of poverty.

“At the same time there are threats which people must be aware of. Here we are talking about vices like corruption. Corruption has a huge potential to affect the realisation of the MW2063 so people must be vigilant and ensure they guard against it.”

The traditional leader also said there is need to guide people on the kind of the leaders the country needs to drive the agenda and to counter the electing of leaders on tribal lines.

NICE Trust District Civic Education Officer for Kasungu, Pilirani Chaguza said the focus in 2024 will be on raising awareness on the duties and responsibilities of various duty bearers and elected leaders so that citizens are able to demand quality services from them.

“Citizens must be aware of how the central and local governments operate, looking at their duties and responsibilities.  

“We also have to prepare the people on the forthcoming tripartite elections in 2025. So, we are orienting our volunteer structures who will lead this exercise,” Chaguza said.  

With funding from government, NICE is conducting activities to popularise the MW2063 and help to change the way people think and do things in a quest to graduate the country from being a low and donor-dependent country to a middle income and self-reliant nation.