Following the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) victory in the September 16 General Election, various experts have tipped the new administration on areas of focus upon assuming office, saying Malawians want to see change in their livelihoods.
DPP rode on the back of an ailing economy that has left Malawians desperate for relief by promising to improve their economic fortunes.
In separate interviews, Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) president Bertha Bangara-Chikadza, Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) executive director Benedicto Kondowe, Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) executive director George Jobe, and Health Rights Education Programme (Hrep) executive director Maziko Matemba said Malawians expect the new government to prioritise efforts to turn things around for the better.
Noting that the country’s economy is teetering on the brink of collapse, Bangara-Chikadza, who teaches economics at the University of Malawi, said the new government should focus on stabilising the economy and cut any unnecessary expenditure, minimise leakages and wastage by enforcing austerity measures.
She outlined five areas of focus for the new government, namely the need to tackle inflation, boost exports to stabilise forex reserves, restore fiscal discipline, prioritise productive investments, and implement the Malawi 2063 (MW2063)—the country’s long-term development strategy.
Said Bangara-Chikadza: “It is time to rebuild and the government should lead by cutting unnecessary expenditures and reduce borrowing.
“For these proposed solutions to work, there is a need for concerted efforts from the government, the private sector, and development partners. However, based on current trends in official development assistance, the country needs to focus more on local solutions than relying on donor support for its development.”
She said since inflation is primarily driven by food pressures and imported inflation that comes with lack of forex in formal financial markets, short-term interventions should focus on strengthening agricultural production to stabilise food availability.
Bangara-Chikadza also called on the new government to allocate resources strategically and effectively to support the MW2063 commitments and avoid deviations from the main development agenda.
On his part, Kondowe said the new government must view education as Malawi’s survival strategy, adding Malawians want to see improved resource allocation to the sector to facilitate improved outcomes on quality education standards.
He said as promised during their campaign, the new government should implement free secondary education, abolish examination fees, provide food in universities, improve teachers’ welfare, and decongest classrooms by constructing more blocks.
Said Kondowe: “In short, the new government must view education not as a political slogan, but as Malawi’s survival strategy. The rollout of free secondary education and the removal of examination fees must be matched with bold investments in quality, equity, and accountability so that no child is left behind.”
In the health sector, Jobe called for adequate funding to address various challenges in the sector.
He urged government to move with speed in putting in place a national health fund as promised in the DPP manifesto, which should be sustained through innovative domestic resource mobilisation strategies.
Weighing in, Matemba also called for adequate resources in health facilities, including drugs, human resource, and equipment.
He said: “There will be need for increased funding to the health sector, especially now that donor support is shrinking.
“Government should also ensure that donors that are still supporting us do not stop supporting the country.”
Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja on Wednesday declared DPP presidential candidate Peter Mutharika as winner of the presidential election in the September 16 General Election.
