President Lazarus Chakwera has called upon the citizenry to do their best towards building a new Malawi enjoyed by all.

Chakwera made the appeal in Lilongwe during the official opening of the National Development Conference organised by the National Planning Commission.

He said for Malawi to develop it is not a task by government only but collective efforts from all sectors.

Chakwera reminded Malawians that the forum is an opportunity for Malawians to reframe the story about who they are and what they can do to determine the destiny of the country.

He added that his mission as President is to influence the government in service to the people so that the citizens themselves have the capacity to build a new Malawi.

Chakwera also presented gifts to different students ranging from primary to tertiary schools who emerged winners in the Youth Essay and Art Competition that the Commission organised.

The special winner in the Competition is a 10-year old Nathan Mumba who emerged third in the art category.

The two-day Conference is an annual event where experts from all sectors will come together to stock and discuss how to accelerate the agreed national development priorities.

The conference will also provide a platform where the citizenry, state and non-state actors including developmental partners to deliberate on emerging issues from public consultations on the development of the successor to Vision 2020.