Government calls for mindset change for development

By James Mwale

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri has challenged local authorities and management of the Ntchisi District Council to embrace mindset change to redefine its economic state.

The Minister made the call at Chikwatula Resource Centre in the district on Thursday during a ministerial visit where he interacted with the council managers, political leadership, and local authorities.

He was reacting to sentiments by the district council’s Chairperson, Maloto Joseph Chinkombelo, who raised development concerns, adding that it was sad that Ntchisi was in the top 5 of the country’s poorest districts.

The Minister said: “The power to transform Ntchisi is within you. If you do not like Ntchisi, where you are living, you need to change the way you think and then come up with a development plan which my Ministry is ready to support.”

He went on to caution the council management against laziness, negligence and corruption, saying the vices are not aligned with the government’s development agenda and that accordingly disciplinary actions will be executed on culprits.