By Ivy Tunkete Mwanyongo:
The Council for Non-Governmental Organizations in Malawi (CONGOMA) has named localization as a great move towards achieving a middle-income economy as envisioned in Malawi2063.
CONGOMA Chairperson Cossam Munthali said the council is adding a voice of commendation and solidarity in the localization agenda, as expounded by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera during the opening ceremony of the recent Lilongwe Institute of Orthopedics and Neurosurgery.
Munthali said all developed countries focused on empowering their own local people, while foreigners only provided support.
He argues that locals understand their history and context better and is only right that they lead the process of their own development.
“Every Malawian should make sure that whatever they are doing is embracing localization and donor aid should only complement the already existing efforts”, said Munthali.
Munthali said some aid institutions tend to abuse their freedoms and indulge in development mischievousness for their own benefit, which he said should not be tolerated any more.
He added that, “The council recommends narrowing down the localization concept to the Malawi context rather than focusing on some donor conditionality and priorities which are mostly imposed, pretentious and leave a lot to be desired against the real needs of this country”.
Munthali has also cautioned the government not to misplace priorities and consider freezing buying of new vehicles and focus on maintaining the existing fleet and that the Ministry of Transport should speed up road construction works.
