By Burnett Munthali
Vice President Dr Jane Mayemu Ansah concluded the 2025 Cabinet Retreat with a firm message that Malawi has entered a phase where delivery—rather than discussion—must define government work.
Bringing together ministers and UNDP partners, the retreat offered a forum for leaders to rethink their approaches and sharpen strategies aimed at strengthening the economy, improving governance, and expanding development partnerships.
Dr Ansah challenged the Cabinet to break away from routine bureaucratic tendencies and embrace a results-driven mindset, noting that Malawians have endured years of compounded difficulties and are now looking for visible, meaningful progress.
She highlighted that fulfilling campaign pledges is not optional but essential to restoring public confidence, emphasising that the administration must embody service, integrity, and discipline at every level of leadership.
The Vice President observed that the technical experts and facilitators contributed significantly by grounding discussions in practical experience and global best practices aligned with the DPP Manifesto and Malawi 2063 priorities in agriculture, industrial growth, and urban development.
She commended Cabinet members for their energetic participation across the intensive sessions, pointing out that the level of engagement showed a collective appetite to address fiscal strain, foreign exchange challenges, rising debt, and food insecurity.
Dr Ansah expressed sincere appreciation to UNDP for its sustained support and capacity-building role, adding that the organisation’s involvement underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in shaping Malawi’s development agenda.
In her closing remarks, she reminded ministers of President Mutharika’s insistence on reducing time lost to prolonged meetings and shifting towards decisive action, affirming that the retreat’s value will only be realised when resolutions translate into real change for Malawians.
