From creating three million jobs for the youth in half a decade to K500 000 investment account for every child, the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has unveiled its manifesto for the September 16 General Election, with focus on food security, job creation, wealth creation, governance reforms and improved public service delivery. In this interview, our News Analyst WYCLIFFE NJIRAGOMA engages economic policy analyst Dalitso Kubalasa to unpack the big promises from President Lazarus Chakwera’s re-election bid. Excerpts:
The MCP has promised three million jobs, K500 000 baby grants and scaled-up social protection. Are these pledges realistic?
Gauging by our immediate past, any of these promises is simply not going to happen without a serious shift from political promises to real fiscal responsibility and integrity. The last five years have been filled with more talk than action. The economy is under pressure, donor confidence is shaky and public trust has eroded. Stretching an already fragile public budget with ambitious pledges risks deepening the crisis.
Are these programmes—job creation, social transfers and Tsogolo Accounts—necessary in the first place?
Absolutely. But they need a total makeover. What Malawi truly needs are focused, transparent and sustainable strategies. Sweeping populist promises without strong delivery systems, adequate funding and accountability mechanisms only feed disillusionment. Transformation requires more than excitement. It requires strategy and systems that work.
Can the country afford the scale of spending implied in the MCP manifesto unveiled by President Lazarus Chakwera recently?
Not at this rate. Malawi is grappling with an aid freeze, rising debt now over K17 trillion and sluggish growth in domestic revenue. Without growing our revenue base and plugging financial leakages, these promises become dangerously hollow. Fiscal space is tightening, and the cost of borrowing is rising. We’re running out of room for error.
What’s the potential impact of these pledges on core development priorities like health, education and governance?
There is a serious risk that essential reforms will be sidelined. Politicised spending tends to crowd out investment in areas where long-term transformation begins. If we keep leaning towards populism, sectors like education infrastructure, governance reform and health services will continue to suffer neglect.
What should the next government do differently to avoid repeating the same mistakes?
First, it must merge ambition with action. Malawi has a clear vision in the form of Malawi 2063, but the problem lies in execution. We need the courage to prioritise what is truly sustainable and the honesty to drop what is not. This means moving from political theatre to fiscal discipline, and from dependency to citizen-led change.
What specific reform steps do you recommend to get Malawi off the populist treadmill?
We need to urgently do eight things. 1. We need to speak the truth, not fantasy. We should stop selling blanket giveaways. Let’s confront the tough issues head-on: a broken public service, a youth bulge with no jobs and a crushing debt burden.
2. Let’s build a national reform coalition. Real change won’t come from the government alone. Youth leaders, civil society, churches, private sector players and development partners must become active drivers, not spectators.
3. We need to craft a smart, localised vision. Let us begin to focus on practical goals like job-focused youth innovation hubs, performance-based bursaries and community-driven development funds that involve citizens.
4. Let’s begin to mobilise citizens for reform by inspiring people to take ownership of change. Engage schools, churches and communities to promote behavioural change and better service delivery.
5. We need to fix the leaks. Let’s root out ghost beneficiaries and procurement abuses. Youth enterprise support must be simplified and built on transparency. Integrity must come before expansion.
6. Let’s generate quick wins by piloting success stories in selected districts. Let’s monitor every kwacha spent and share results widely. Small, visible wins can rebuild trust one step at a time.
7. We should normalise acting through crisis, not after. Let’s not wait to be ready. We need a dedicated delivery unit to seize momentum in times of crisis and convert it into reform. Let’s connect programmes directly to citizens, not political handlers.
8. We should seriously consider changing the culture. Public service must be restructured around integrity and results. Transparency must be a default setting. We must reward truth and evidence, not noise and slogans..
Any final thoughts as Malawians go to the polls on September 16 to elect the President, members of Parliament and ward councillors?
Malawi doesn’t need more catchy phrases. We need a fresh, grounded approach. The next government must understand that real transformation is quiet, consistent and accountable. Let’s focus on fewer promises and more delivery. The public is no longer impressed by drama. They want results.
