President Lazarus Chakwera has called on the citizenry to remain hopeful that the current socio-economic challenges will be dealt with.

But the President has also stressed the need for each person to be productive, rather than being consumers.

Speaking yesterday in Mzuzu, Chakwera said Malawians cannot continue to be consumers, without producing as a country.

“This is part of what has brought us to our knees. Even though the world context has all manner of issues, we must also be honest and accept responsibility for having not utilised those resources God has given us resourcefully,” said Chakwera.

He made the call when he attended prayers at St Andrews Church of the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) under Livingstonia Synod in Mzuzu where he also asked for prayers owing to socio-economic challenges facing Malawi.

Chakwera: We must produce as a country

Chakwera said the country has remained on the consumption side far too long, a situation that needs to change.

“God expects us to be productive. My prayer is that God helps me and all of us at every level of society to be productive. The issues we face, regardless of their magnitude, God has allowed for us to be alive so that we rise to meet these challenges,” he said.

The President said for the situation to change, it requires that every Malawian should be honest, be of integrity and do what is right all the time.

“Then we will see the difference. So, [the church] should not give up on us. As you continue to support, I pray that Malawians everywhere will rally behind a common vision that we become a self-reliant country,” added Chakwera.

However, he admitted that the country was going through various challenges that are not only economical, but also political.

In his speech, General Secretary for the Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP, William Tembo, said the church will continue praying for Chakwera and his administration, adding that the country was looking up to the President to deal with the current economic problems.

“You are the President, who is also a church minister. We want to assure that we will support you. Everyone who is a Malawian should be able to know that you came into office at a very difficult moment. You have been in office for only two years. We need to give you time,” he said.

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