Business Magnate Urges Malawians to Shift Away From Handouts for Economic Development
Dr. Dzombe urged the youth, in particular, to cultivate a strong work ethic and break away from the habit of relying on handouts.
Blantyre, Malawi – Dr. Napoleon Dzombe, a renowned business figure in the country, has emphasized that Malawi's economic development strategies can succeed only if its citizens abandon the culture of depending on handouts, writes Steven Godfrey Mkweteza.
Speaking during the Wealth Creation Conference organized by Sycamore Consult Limited in Blantyre on Thursday, Dr. Dzombe stressed that no country can achieve economic development solely through handouts.
Dr. Dzombe urged the youth, in particular, to cultivate a strong work ethic and break away from the habit of relying on handouts.
He stated, "For years, our economic development efforts as a nation have been progressing slowly due to the culture of dependency on handouts. People have stopped putting in the hard work required to generate wealth independently and have instead come to rely on assistance from other countries. This is a concerning trend."
According to Dr. Dzombe, those who provide handouts corrupt the minds of the recipients, trapping them in poverty.
He added, "Our dependence on handouts over the years should serve as a lesson. It's time for us to change our mindset and approach things differently."
In a separate interview, Audrey Mwala, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sycamore Consult Limited, advised Malawians to diversify their investment strategies by focusing on long-term projects rather than short-term ones.
Mwala noted that successful businesspeople worldwide have invested in long-term projects to reap substantial benefits.
She stated, "Investing is a patient, courageous, and enduring long-term process. It's not for those with a lazy mindset who are quick to give up or those seeking rapid gains."
Mwala explained that her company brought together various local business tycoons to share their experiences with participants during the conference. This approach aims to cultivate a culture of wealth creation in the country.
She stated, "While there has been a lot of discussion and theoretical approaches to wealth creation in the country, we decided to take a face-to-face approach."
Since her company initiated wealth creation programs in the country in 2019, the number of entrepreneurs in Malawi has significantly increased, according to Mwala.