Why is OPC dithering on Kalebe, Kutsaira?

Ted Kalebe is a jolly good fellow. I know him fairly well, having worked with the seasoned economist and bureaucrat at the Ministry of Finance’s local development financing arm—the Local Development Fund Technical Support Team (LDF-TST)—where he has been its executive director.

No wonder, IMF policies don’t work for the poor

So, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) came to Malawi, peeped into our little bundle of forex at the Reserve Bank of Malawi, saw an uptick in our import cover there (albeit a statistically insignificant one) and then, lo and behold, declared as "commendable" government’s implementation of the economic programme—the Extended Credit Facility (ECF)—it supports.

RBM decision on bank rate makes sense

I was not surprised to read on Thursday that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has for the third time since December 2012 maintained the benchmark bank rate at 25 percent.

Let’s reject the celebration overreach

So, Joyce Banda, Malawi’s first female State President and Africa’s second after Liberia’s 24th and current leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has clocked one year in office!

I wonder how Noel Masangwi, him of "Malawi is not ready for a female president" fame must be feeling right now after watching (with clenched teeth and fists I am sure) Banda clocking one year in office!

Stop the pettiness Madam President

Two prominent people in as many days have shown remarkable courage in telling Malawi President Joyce Banda some hard truths right in her face.

I hate to say it, but I told you so

I hate to say it, but I told you so

Two weeks ago, I made the following prediction and explained why that would be the case:

Even maintaining the bank rate at 25 percent (by Reserve Bank of Malawi)—despite all fundamentals dictating an upward adjustment—will not stabilise the kwacha, let alone leave interest rates intact.

Channeling Jefferson, JFK wisdom to JB

I, Joyce Hilda Mtila Banda, do solemnly declare that all journalists in Malawi are murderers! Well, she may not have used those exact words, but she could as well have.

What is in it for President Banda?

Something is not adding up in the way President Joyce Banda has been intervening in procurement processes in the public sector as well as getting embroidered in issues that should otherwise be dealt with by sector ministries, government departments and agencies.  

The woman who named my son Vitumbiko

I heard the news at around 4pm last Friday as I was about to leave the office. It did not register. I knew it must be true, but I refused to believe, let alone, accept it.

How could it be?

Eyes on the ball: It’s the economy, stupid

The Bingu wa Mutharika death inquiry report has changed the national conversation from economic hardships to an examination of the rough road that the former Head of State was dragged through—literally—just before and soon after his death.