Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika having an impression of some of the products at this year's agricultural fair. Pic by Malawi Digest.By Lucy Liponda
Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has appealed to Malawians from all walks of life to promote the buying of locally produced products if the country is to continue transforming economically.
Ngwazi Dr Mutharika, was speaking at the Chichiri International Trade Fair Grounds in the commercial city, Blantyre on Thursday when he officially opened this year’s 6th Agricultural Trade Fair.
Speaking to the huge crowd that came to witness the opening of the fair, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika did not mince words on his disappointment.
“Am disappointed that whilst we are trying to change Malawi’s economy from a predominantly importing country to an exporting one, we are not doing enough to promote the buying of our locally produced products,” he said to the ululation and applause of the huge crowd.
The State President therefore had a directive to all government agencies in the country.
“I would like to advise and instruct government agencies that from today onwards, let’s us patronise locally produced products,” he said.
The President ordered other among many other products, from Thursday the country should not import treadle pumps that used in irrigation farming.
He said that local companies had shown that they can deliver best products.
“I don’t care if people will call this protectionism. The Americans, the British, the French, the Chinese, the Germans and many others protect their products, why not Malawi?” he said to the ululation of the mammoth crowd.
Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has appealed to Malawians from all walks of life to promote the buying of locally produced products if the country is to continue transforming economically.
Ngwazi Dr Mutharika, was speaking at the Chichiri International Trade Fair Grounds in the commercial city, Blantyre on Thursday when he officially opened this year’s 6th Agricultural Trade Fair.
Speaking to the huge crowd that came to witness the opening of the fair, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika did not mince words on his disappointment.
“Am disappointed that whilst we are trying to change Malawi’s economy from a predominantly importing country to an exporting one, we are not doing enough to promote the buying of our locally produced products,” he said to the ululation and applause of the huge crowd.
The State President therefore had a directive to all government agencies in the country.
“I would like to advise and instruct government agencies that from today onwards, let’s us patronise locally produced products,” he said.
The President ordered other among many other products, from Thursday the country should not import treadle pumps that used in irrigation farming.
He said that local companies had shown that they can deliver best products.
“I don’t care if people will call this protectionism. The Americans, the British, the French, the Chinese, the Germans and many others protect their products, why not Malawi?” he said to the ululation of the mammoth crowd.
He said there was need to change the mind set of the people.
“We are not going anywhere unless we change our mind set on locally produced products,” he said.
Whilst he was promoting the buying of local products, he appealed to the local manufactures to also improve on their products.
“I don’t want to open a jar of locally produced honey only to see the honey mixed with feathers,” he warned.
On the Agriculture Trade Fair, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika appealed to the local farmers to march with time.
“There is need for our farmers to be innovative and adapt with modern technologies of farming,” he said.
At this point, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika attacked the exploitation of local farmers through unfair prices by buyers of crops like tobacco and cotton among many other crops.
“I appeal to you buyers to feed the farmer that is giving the product because what you are doing is killing the goose that is laying the golden egg,” he said.
President Bingu wa Mutharika said that he is going to get at all foreign companies that are exploiting local farmers through unfair prices.
“This cheating is not good and very soon, I will get at you,” he said.
He warned if these organisations are not ready to change they will face his wrath.
“You are within my range and if I want to shoot I don’t miss,” warned Mutharika.
Earlier, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika visited pavilions for the participants at this year’s agricultural fair where the President said he was moved by what he saw.
“We are not going anywhere unless we change our mind set on locally produced products,” he said.
Whilst he was promoting the buying of local products, he appealed to the local manufactures to also improve on their products.
“I don’t want to open a jar of locally produced honey only to see the honey mixed with feathers,” he warned.
On the Agriculture Trade Fair, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika appealed to the local farmers to march with time.
“There is need for our farmers to be innovative and adapt with modern technologies of farming,” he said.
At this point, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika attacked the exploitation of local farmers through unfair prices by buyers of crops like tobacco and cotton among many other crops.
“I appeal to you buyers to feed the farmer that is giving the product because what you are doing is killing the goose that is laying the golden egg,” he said.
President Bingu wa Mutharika said that he is going to get at all foreign companies that are exploiting local farmers through unfair prices.
“This cheating is not good and very soon, I will get at you,” he said.
He warned if these organisations are not ready to change they will face his wrath.
“You are within my range and if I want to shoot I don’t miss,” warned Mutharika.
Earlier, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika visited pavilions for the participants at this year’s agricultural fair where the President said he was moved by what he saw.
The Agricultural Trade Fair has become an annual event for Malawi and the three day event is the 6th to take place in Malawi.
This year’s theme, the role of agriculture in economic development-Malawi Digest.
This year’s theme, the role of agriculture in economic development-Malawi Digest.
sometimes you tand to wonder that if Bingu was here from 2004,where could Malawi be now?Dr.Bingu, thats what we need for our country to be financially stable.I wish Muluzi and his people though dying slow could see the goodness that a leader is supposed to do to his people.If you dont appreciate your own wife you ebd up going for sexual harlots hence improving the harlot than your own wifen and you end up calling her unhygienic and unpleasant,May God bless you Mr. President as you Malawi well.no0 wonder you want tobacco and cotton prices to be good fro a local farmer but beacuse the buyers are used to Muluzi's mathematics of telling them that Malawi does not produce good products,I se3cond you Mr president.
ReplyDeleteThe problem in Malawi is that no-one dont want to take responsibility for anything. This is a welcome development but my worry is how do you expect government to fulfil this directive when all our institutions are corrupt to the neck? I guess this is just going to create more corruption in every department.The problem is as i said already no-one want to take responsibility.Our ministers are out of touch with whats happening in government departments.All our appoint to higher offices have no idea whats going on..hence this is what making difficult for a country to move on.There is always a saying in Malawi izi nza Boma.
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