By Andrew Saukani
To begin this discussion, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to have travelled to China several times in recent years.
I spent nearly three years there for postgraduate studies and I am particularly thankful to the Malawi Government for shifting diplomatic relations from Taiwan to Mainland China.
There is much that one can learn from China that can significantly enhance personal growth, perception and discipline.
Despite many negative narratives propagated regarding China’s global financial influence, my experiences in this remarkable country revealed a different reality.
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Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China actively promotes people – people exchange programmes.
One of the key lessons from the Chinese is their consistently positive perception of their country.
Regardless of nationality, culture or political leadership, every Chinese person takes pride in their identity.
In contrast, many Malawians seem to struggle with national pride, often criticizing our own country and undermining our homeland.
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Such attitudes hinder Malawi’s development. Citizens who relentlessly criticise their country undermine their own allegiance.
As we strive to become a self-reliant, middle income economy by 2063, we must first learn to love our country, support our leaders and become true ambassadors for Malawi’s values and goals.
The Chinese are exceptionally punctual for meetings and events. In Malawi, we often excuse our lack of punctuality with various justifications, failing to recognise that poor time management is detrimental to development.
Additionally, many Malawians are too casual and often blame others, systems or the government for their failures without first reflecting on their own contributions to these issues.
China has effective policies for the elderly, whereas in Malawi, ageing is often associated with stigma and public humiliation.
In China, older people are respected and cared for, often enjoying comfortable retirement homes, while in Malawi, many elderly people remain in towns and cities out of fear of unfounded accusations in rural areas.
While China is often labelled a big greenhouse gas polluter, the reality is that the government imposes strict regulations on industries, enforcing heavy penalties for pollution that can lead to business closures.
In Malawi, rampant deforestation occurs with little accountability, while China is actively working to protect and restore its forests.
Chinese businesses operate around the clock, adapting to various scales of the global economy.
In Malawi, we still adhere to traditional working hours, with most factories, banks, public transport, restaurants, shopping malls and clinics closing by 5pm.
Meanwhile, Chinese businesses keep their operations running continuously.
Online business transactions in China are robust and well-regulated to protect consumers. In Malawi, the situation is often the opposite, with sellers intimidating buyers.
We have much to gain from embracing such innovations.
Public safety and hygiene are big concerns in Malawi, particularly in urban areas. In contrast, China employs surveillance cameras and uniformed and plain-clothed police, ensuring vigilance against crime.
Waste management in Chinese towns and cities is exemplary, contributing to cleanliness.
Traffic regulations are strictly followed in China. While accidents do occur, they are not typically the result of negligence, as is often the case in Malawi.
Traffic lights, breathalyser tests and speed limits are respected and vehicles are generally roadworthy.
Violations of traffic regulations lead to penalties, including point deductions that can ultimately restrict driving privileges.
There is much more we can learn from the Chinese that could foster development and growth in our nation. However, we must first cultivate love and patriotism for Malawi, our one and only home.
