As the country gears up for another electoral season, the President’s recent plea for a fresh mandate raises critical questions about leadership, accountability, and trust.
The argument that his first term focused on fixing broken systems, leaving the next five years for enjoying the fruits, is unlikely to resonate with many Malawians who feel they have endured enough pain without seeing tangible results. For the average citizen, the time for explanations has long passed; action and visible progress are what matter now.
When leaders take office, they inherit both opportunities and challenges. The President’s narrative of inheriting “broken systems” is valid to some extent, but it cannot serve as a perpetual shield against accountability. His administration’s decision to cancel the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) with the International Monetary Fund in 2020, for example, was a deliberate choice with far-reaching consequences.
While the previous administration had secured the facility to stabilise the economy, cancelling it forfeited $70 million in financial support. This decision, like many others, must be owned, not excused. Leaders are judged not only by the challenges they inherit but by how effectively they manage them.
Similarly, the expansion of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) from K35 billion to an astonishing K140 billion in the Tonse Alliance’s maiden budget significantly strained public finances. While the goal of ensuring food security is commendable, the implementation has been anything but efficient.
Fiscal deficits have ballooned, leaving the country grappling with debt and economic instability. The pain Malawians are enduring is not just the result of inherited problems but also of decisions made by this administration.
Beyond economic policies, the promise to “clear the rubble” rings hollow when examined closely. True reform is about instituting meritocracy, ensuring that the most qualified individuals are appointed to positions of power and responsibility. Yet, the reality has been different. Many ministerial, diplomatic, and government appointments have gone to party loyalists and those with personal connections rather than the best in class.
This approach undermines the very systems the President claims to be fixing. Clearing the rubble should mean dismantling the culture of patronage and replacing it with a commitment to excellence.
The President’s caution against unnecessary ministerial travel and his emphasis on prudence in managing public resources are steps in the right direction. However, words alone are not enough.
Malawians are tired of the rhetoric; they need to see decisive actions that align with these statements. The President should lead by cutting on his unnecessary travels. Corruption remains a pervasive issue, and the public finance management systems, while tightened in theory, have yet to produce significant results.
Critics are not unjustified in their scepticism. During the 2020 campaign, the President set high expectations, promising to fix broken systems within two years or step aside. That pledge alone was a tacit acknowledgement of the enormity of the task and an invitation for Malawians to hold him accountable.
Three years beyond that timeline, the sentiment among many citizens is one of disappointment. The President’s perceived hesitation in making critical decisions has only deepened this disillusionment.
The challenges facing the country are immense, from rampant corruption to an overvalued currency, from fiscal deficits to a struggling agricultural sector. These are not problems that can be resolved overnight. But leadership is about making tough decisions and ensuring that those decisions yield visible benefits. It is not enough to ask for patience or to attribute all difficulties to past administrations. Malawians deserve to see progress, not just feel the pain.
As the elections approach, the question for citizens is not just about promises but about credibility. Can the same leadership that has overseen years of hardship be trusted to deliver in a second term? For the President, the path forward requires more than pleas for understanding. It demands an honest reckoning with the administration’s own shortcomings, a renewed commitment to accountability, and a clear, actionable plan for recovery.
