President Lazarus Chakwera Monday descended on public officers, faulting them for frustrating development projects.
He accused some public servants of delaying processes unnecessarily and demanding money to do their job.
The Malawi leader made the remarks in Dowa District Monday, when he officially opened Kalipano Hotel, which businessman Napoleon Dzombe has constructed under Mtalimanja Holdings.
The facility will be managed by Sunbird Malawi.
Chakwera also emphasised the need for private sector players to trust the government and form partnerships, instead of discouraging other investors from investing in Malawi.
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“We must see action, not delays, in government,” Chakwera said.
The Malawi leader said, in some cases, some Cabinet ministries spend millions of dollars on consultations on activities such as changing some laws.
“And that is happening in our ministries! What a shame this is! Why should we have extra billions of Kwacha spent on consultations that have no end, sometimes producing nothing?
“Meeting upon meeting that has no outcome. I want everyone [to be] working; working not for allowances, but working for Malawians in order that we might deliver,” he said.
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Chakwera urged Malawians to follow what Dzombe has done by investing in tourism.
The President lauded the business tycoon for investing in his home area and helping more people.
Tourism Minister Vera Kamtukule said the fact that Dzombe has entered into partnership with Sunbird Malawi demonstrates that it is possible for the government to manage such developments.
“There is something that government has, but there is also something that private investors have and together [they can] come up with something good,” she said.
The minister, therefore, appealed to Malawians who have investment ideas to engage her ministry for any technical advice and support.
On his part, Dzombe said he came up with the idea to build the hotel, which has a man-made lake, based on what he saw in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and China.
He said he still has plans to transform the area, indicating that he has not even reached 25 percent of his plans as he intends to add more facilities such as a golf court and mega farms.
“I want to be working with graduates from Bunda College of Agriculture for them to learn and to teach others. I have 55 of them now but I will have 130 of them soon,” he said.
Sunbird Tourism Malawi Chairperson Vilipo Munthali said strategic collaborations and partnerships could economically empower communities.
Situated about 86 kilometres from Lilongwe, Kalipano Hotel has 54 rooms while 70 more rooms are under construction.
