BY PRINCE HENDERSON,
Chairman of The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Archbishop Thomas Msusa of Blantyre Archdiocese has expressed concern over Malawi’s failure to utilize the available and rich natural resources that Malawi as a nation has in order to realize development in all spheres.
Archbishop Msusa was speaking at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), Lilongwe on Wednesday during a second Graduation Ceremony of 161 students that have graduated from DMI-St John the Baptist University (SJBU), one of the Universities for the Catholic Church in Malawi.
He challenged the graduating students to be agents of change to the society by providing the much-needed guidance in the realization of Malawi’s Social, economic, political and human empowerment.
According to Archbishop Msusa, the pillars of human empowerment hinge on the improvement of the socio-economic and political wellbeing of the citizens in the country.
“I believe that tertiary education has the capacity to drive this country into the realization of the much-talked human empowerment. The future of any society is the extent to which it prepares its youth to become responsible citizens,” said Msusa.
Msusa said Malawi has plenty of fresh water in Lake Malawi which no other countries in the big economy have, but Malawi’s agriculture depends on rains hence on the other hand the country does not have necessary infrastructure as well.
He said it’s high time graduates helped to change the country from agriculture dependent to manufacturing economy.
“Let us stop and think what is happening now in our country, while the developed countries are manufacturers, we also allow them to come to even build our houses while we are sleeping and in the end, we wake up and dance for them………. we clap for them (atimangila nyumba) ……yet our Polytechnic colleges and Universities remain closed! Oh, Mother Malawi! I cry for you, “he said.
Archbishop Msusa noted that Malawi got independence in 1964, more than 50 years ago-but still the country depends on donors for funds to run the social activities hence graduands should strive to bring changes and development.
Reverend Sister Mary Jehani in her report said DMI-St. John the Baptist University which has two Campuses, in Mangochi and Lilongwe offers Degree and Diploma programmes in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Accounts and Finance, Business Administration, Social Work, Community Development and Education among others.
“We do our job with passion and discipline. We do everything for God Our Father. We serve people of all religion and color,” she said.
The Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators (DMI) was founded in 1984 in India to render service to the most downtrodden and the poor. It is spread across in countries like Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Malawi in Africa and Brazil in South America.
Notable faces during the graduation ceremony included; Archbishop Tarsizio Ziyaye of Lilongwe Archdiocese; Bishop Montfort Stima of Mangochi Diocese and Pro Chancellor of DMI-SJBU; His Excellency, Shri Suresh Kumar Menon, High Commissioner of India and Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano; M