National Planning Commission (NPC) Chairperson Professor Richard Mkandawire and Director General Dr. Thomas Munthali on Monday August 10, 2020 paid a courtesy call on Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Honourable Lingson Belekanyama and Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Honourable Halima Daudi at Capital Hill in Lilongwe.

During the meeting, Prof. Mkandawire said the Ministry of Local Government will be key in the implementation and realisation of various goals of the envisioned National Transformation 2063, including the pillar of urbanisation under which spatial development will be pursued to develop secondary cities in various parts of the country.

“Urbanisation is one of the three key pillars through which Malawi is expected to achieve transformation in the next 43 years. It is through urbanisation that Malawi will be able to realise industrialisation, job creation and infrastructure development, amongst others,” said Mkandawire.

In his remarks, Belekanyama said the pillar of urbanisation fits well into development plans of the Ministry of Local Government which already has an initiative to introduce secondary cities.

He pledged his Ministry commitment in the implementation and achievement of medium to long term national development plans as championed by the Commission.

He, however, callled for a complete change of mindset amongst Malawians if the country is to develop.