Malawi needs strong leadership—UK minister

Visiting United Kingdom (UK) Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for International Development Lynne Featherstone has said Malawi needs strong leadership after the 2014 elections for it to sustain economic progress.

Featherstone said this when she briefed the press after meeting President Joyce Banda at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

“We have discussed with the President the coming elections and the importance of the elections and a need for a strong leadership in terms of ensuring that the economy stays on track and that the gains that have been made and the stability that has come to Malawi are to be maintained,” she said.

Featherstone’s sentiments come weeks after British High Commissioner Michael Nevin and other donor countries such as Germany also said that the 2014 elections, which will see Malawians electing a president and members of Parliament (MPs) and ward councilors, will be crucial for the country.

Featherstone was in the country on a three-day visit during which she visited some of the projects being funded by the Department for International Development (DfID).

She visited a victim support unit and a Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of an HIV and Aids (PMCT) project in Dedza supported by DfID through the National Aids Commission (NAC).

Featherstone said although the theme of her visit was on HIV and Aids, during the meeting with the President, the two also discussed the country’s economic growth, the food situation and the fight against corruption in government institutions.

She expressed concern about the country’s food situation and pledged that her government would assist with almost K10 billion (£20 million) to avert a possible food crisis.

This is in addition to the £150 million (almost K75 billion) that the UK government has given to Malawi in various support programmes.

According to a statement from DfID, the £20 million will help over one million people who are facing hunger in the country.