China urges mindset change
The government of China has urged Malawians to change their mindset if the goal of turning around the country’s economy is to be achieved.
China’s Charge D’ Affaires, Lai Xing, said this in Lilongwe in a meeting he had with Times Group’s Managing Director, Leonnard Chikadya.
“Countries in Africa have political independence. But what is needed is economic independence. That has to be done with a very strong sense of urgency. What is needed is a change in mindset. The media can play a big role in changing the mindset,” Lai said.
He said there can be a difference in Malawians’ lives if focus is pressed on making full use of, for instance, water resources available.
Lai said Malawians who are getting educated at various levels should use the knowledge acquired to help the country develop.
“Education should be seen as a tool of developing the country. It should be a tool of sensitising people [about] national development. The people have to be patriotic and take responsibilities as citizens,” Lai said.
Lai, who has ever worked in Sierra Leone and Uganda, described the Southern Africa as a region which has potential to develop fast because of the peace that is prevailing in the area.
Chikadya said Times Group will assist in publicising initiatives the Chinese government can embark on.
“It is nice that China grants us big projects. Another area that China can make a big difference is agriculture. You can set up agriculture centres in each of Malawi’s four political regions, where experts from China can come to teach Malawians on food production. We can play a role of publicising such an initiative and the triple effect will be astronomical,” Chikadya said.
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