President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has urged Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to continue working closely with the government to secure a brighter future for Malawi. Speaking during the commemoration of NGO Day at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre on Wednesday, President Chakwera highlighted the importance of strong partnerships between NGOs and the government in creating a better Malawi.
The president commended NGOs for their impactful work and assured them of his administration’s commitment to fostering an environment that enables their growth. He also called on non-state actors to cooperate with the Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Authority (NGORA) to ensure that their efforts are well-coordinated and beneficial to Malawians.
Minister of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, Jean Muonaowauza Sendeza, emphasized the crucial role that NGOs play in advancing Malawi’s development agenda. She announced the introduction of a new NGO Policy to address challenges facing the sector and praised President Chakwera for establishing an NGO Fund.
Innocentia October, Chairperson of the NGORA Board, pledged to support the Chakwera administration’s efforts toward realizing Vision Malawi 2063. She encouraged NGOs to collaborate with government ministries and the private sector to address national challenges.
Other speakers included George Jobe, Vice Chairperson of CONGOMA, who expressed the NGO community’s readiness to work with the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) for the upcoming general elections, and Maynard Nyirenda, representing the Local NGO Forum, who thanked the government for its continued support.
Kate Hartley from the International NGO Forum reiterated their commitment to working alongside the government to address issues affecting Malawians.
