National Planning Commission (NPC) Director General, Thomas Chataghalala Munthali says chiefs hold an important role in the successful implementation of the Malawi 2063 (MW2063) as they are influential in bringing about mind-set change among their subjects.

Munthali was speaking on Saturday in Mzimba during an interface meeting with some chiefs on the implementation and progress of MW2063.

He said implementation of MW2063 largely hinges on mind-set change which is the main catalyst for the MW2063 to be achieved.

“We are orienting chiefs on MW2063 so that when they go to their respective communities they help create awareness about the blueprint and also champion mind-set change for their subjects because, as chiefs, their subjects easily listen to what they say,” said Munthali.

He said for a long time people have always banked their hopes for survival and development on government and donor support, tendencies which he said must end if Malawi is to move forward in terms of development.

Munthali (in black) poses for photo with chiefs.

“We need to graduate from dependency syndrome at individual level by stopping from relying on government or donors for everything. We need to be self-reliant because this country will primarily be developed by ourselves mainly through self-reliance by working hard,” said Munthali.

Munthali said NPC is taking advantage of the interface meetings to give chiefs progress in terms of how the commission is faring in the realisation of the vision.

The engagement will be happening with chiefs throughout the county.

The main pillars of MW2063 are agricultural productivity and commercialisation, industrialisation and urbanisation.

Speaking on behalf of other chiefs, Traditional Authority (TA) Mabilabo said chiefs will help reach out to the communities to sensitise them on MW2063.

“As chiefs, we will help create awareness about the MW2063 and inculcate mind-set change in our subjects on the importance of owning projects and developing a self-reliant spirit for us to develop both individually as well as a nation without asking for help from elsewhere,” said Mabilabo.