my speech at a symposium-12 October, 2007

OPENING REMARKS FROM THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR LABOUR, Ms EUNICE CHIPANGULA, AT THE SOCIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM F0R 2003-2007 GRADUATING CLASS OF STUDENTS OF CHANCELLOR COLLEGE- VICTORIA HOTEL- BLANTYRE---12th October, 2007

Prospective employers from both the public and private sectors
Final Year sociology students from Chancellor College
Members of the Press
Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to stand before you this morning to open this Sociology Symposium/ recruitment seminar for the 2003-2007 Sociology graduating class. Great pleasure indeed realizing the importance of such a symposium to Malawi when it comes to identification of potential human resources as well as provision of information to the graduates as regards the operations in the industry.

It is from such forums that graduates make choices from a well informed point of view on where to serve in order to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country while prospective employers identify potential from the showcase of capabilities of the students.

As you may be aware, Government is committed towards ensuring that graduates get employed within the system without demanding experience as a prerequisite for one to be employed. In this context, His Excellency the President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika issued a decree two months ago that companies should follow what the government does with regard to employing university students fresh from college without requiring experience. It is government’s strong belief that from this forum, companies will take up that step.

Ladies and Gentlemen, government views sociology as one of the most important areas that are key to poverty eradication and wealth creation through social development programmes.
As you may be aware, broadly, the social development function is related to as social transformation of poor and vulnerable societies of the world. As such the role of sociologists in this endeavor cannot be overemphasized. The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy overriding philosophy is poverty reduction through sustainable economic growth and infrastructure development. Its framework which has five broad themes include social protection and social development. It is therefore this strategy that acts as a single reference point for policy makers in government, the private sector, civil society organizations, donors, cooperating partners and the general public on socio-economic growth and development in Malawi.

In government, social development turns out to be a function of various ministries and departments both at district and national level. Government therefore identified skills training and social security as priority areas for social transformation in Malawi.

The Ministries involved are Labour- through the establishment of village polytechnics which are taken as one potential area for skills transfer on gender basis; Health- through such programmes as HIV/AIDS, TB, Diarrhoea, use of contraceptives and child vaccinations; Education, Science and Technology- through increased enrolment, retention rate, reduced absenteeism, provision of quality professional training, vocational and skills training; Women and Child Development- through ensuring participation of women and men , girls and boys to reduce gender inequality; Youth, Sports and Culture- through Youth empowerment and HIV/ AIDS awareness; Irrigation and Water Development; Elderly and People with disabilities; Agriculture and Food Security; Economic planning and development and Local Government and Rural Development through the establishment of rural growth centres.

With several existing players tackling different programmes across government which are dealing with social development, government is charged with the responsibility of providing policy direction on all matters in the sector in order to produce and transform the Malawi society, with particular focus on the poor and vulnerable groups, into a gender responsive skilled and self reliant society capable of effectively contributing through participation in socio-economic development of the country.

Ladies and Gentlemen, government strives to achieve this by empowering communities to appreciate, access, participate in, manage and demand accountability in public and community based initiatives; protecting vulnerable persons from deprivation and livelihood risks; creating an enabling environment for increased employment opportunities and productivity for improved livelihoods and social security for all, especially the poor and vulnerable and ensuring that issues of inequality and exclusion in access to services across all sectors and at all levels are addressed.

Government also ensures that it monitors the mainstreaming of social development issues in social development programmes across sectors.

All these initiatives are aimed at empowering Malawians economically and reducing poverty through wealth creation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, a big task therefore lies before you as you intend to join the public sector to come up with fresh programmes, mechanisms and strategies in the system to improve the social development sector in view of such challenges as globalization and other international, regional and national trends impacting on our society.
You are today’s leaders and coming up with social development responsive interventions that support reduction in the vulnerability, inequality and powerlessness of the poor and strengthening them to manage and cope with livelihood risks that they face will ensure sustainable development.

Government therefore welcomes you to join the public sector and expects your meaningful contribution towards socio-economic development of the country

Thank you.