The talk in all the corners of the country is about the ailing economy, with authorities, cooperating partners, the private sector and many other stakeholders spending sleepless nights on how its recovery can be fast-tracked.

As different players are working tirelessly to ensure that economic recovery becomes a reality, some doubting Thomases still question the validity and effectiveness of strategies being used.

While some critics are of the view that the Malawi Economic Recovery Plan is just a piece of document and the citizens should not expect much from it, it is important to realise that economic recovery is not an issue about the government, the cooperating partners and the private sector alone, it is for everyone.

Economic recovery can only be fast-tracked if every Malawian, even those living in deep areas become productive by implementing programmes that can empower them economically.

While some pessimists are wasting their time groaning over the current state of the economy, optimists are working hard to ensure that they succeed at personal, family and village level.

Entrepreneurs and intra-preneurs are also doing the same. The success of people at micro-level contributes to the national success at macro-level even in the recovery plan.

In this very harsh economic environment, hard working people with good strategies are defying the odds and in the process be able to achieve financial miracles. If you don't believe it go to Traditional Authority Mphuka in Thyolo where 2806 villagers belonging to village savings and loan clubs will share K40 million dividends.

It is obvious that the dividend will transform the villagers' lives and if every area in this country can replicate that success story of letting savings and credit clubs to mobilise savings which in turn are accessed as loans through the philosophy of "people helping people to help themselves," lives of poor people can be transformed.

The advantages with such savings and credit clubs are that members have a voice in the running of their village cooperatives while access to financial services by members is easy, non-discriminatory and affordable.