Malawi has the High Level National Council (HLDC) to be conducting National Dialogue on “Malawi at 50 and prospects for the next 50 years” to help in the development of the country through the fundamental pillars of national development.

Speaking at the official opening of the HLDC in Lilongwe on Wednesday, the council chairperson, Professor Mathews Chikaonda said looking back at the country’s past 50 years, life is not satisfied.

“As the county Malawi we were richer on Capital per Gross Domestic Product (GDP) when we were getting independence. But as of now the country is poor with 231 GDP which is less that the amount required,” said Prof. Chikaonda.

He said the general consensus showed that politics has dominated a lot in the ignorance of the country’s development.

The Council which is an independent entity and said they will work with all political parties without looking at which party ruling.

Chikaonda then made a plea to leaders in the country to tell the truth and let the people decide what they know is good for the country’s development and also said there is need to focus on things that will help in the development and not focus on people.

The council has been formed to be conducting national dialogue on what the county need to be looked at the next 50 years.

Commenting on the same issue deputy chairperson Dr. Blessings Chinsinga, said the country had no long-term national development plan that contributed to the poverty, hence the establishing of the council.

He said the council will be accommodating views of other countries that have similar council to see how they can borrow ideas to implement them.

“We will also accommodate Malawians who have development ideas and implement them,” said Chinsinga.

The council was formed on 9 January 2014 and will be advising government and stakeholders on national development.