Will Goodall’s economic magic wand work?

Goodall Gondwe is a reputable economist. The image that he carved for himself some 10 years ago, at the beginning of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika’s tenure, lives on to date.

He first came with Bingu, and worked with Joyce Banda’s a bit and now, he has returned in Peter Mutharika’s Cabinet. He is a thread that wound through the past two governments of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the People’s Party (PP) and now DPP again.

Like how he led the economic healing and growth team, during Bingu’s time, people expects Goodall again to put the economy back where he left it with Bingu and move it steps further.

Before he joined the Cabinet in Malawi, Gondwe worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

It is from there that he mastered economic policies and comprehensively understood the global economic trends. This is why when he speaks, his vocabulary is enough proof of an accomplished economist.

When he speaks, he either threatens doom or gives hope to a country. He speaks the language of money with all efficiency and delicately turns the tongue to pick the economic theory that works at every bad turn of the economy.

And now, the thought of a budget parliamentary meeting brings to mind an image of a figure in branded old-type suit, wizardly clutching a black-silvery briefcase alighting from a black Mercedes Benz walking into the Parliament building. This figure suits Gondwe well.

That is why his appointment as Finance Minister in Peter Mutharika’s government did not surprise many, even those that resent recycled ministers. Now, all are waiting with bated breath to see how this new budget will be implemented. Will Malawi see the changes it so heavily needs?

When Gondwe became Finance minister in 2005, he found the economy at a point of collapse. Together with Bingu, they cooked a regimen of economic policies that healed the Malawi economy and for the first time in the democratic era, the economy grew at an average eight percent and was second in the world from Qatar, among the fast-growing economies.

And that is why, when he later went to Chancellor College’s Great Hall for budget consultation, young intellectuals chanted, “Atilankhule, atilankhule, atilankhule!” (He should speak to us!). The chanting expressed and revealed the students’ deep admiration for the minister.

When he was given the portfolio of Local Government later, in the same regime of Bingu, he did not perform well. And people concluded that his best field was finance. Pressure mounted on Bingu to reappoint Gondwe to the Finance Ministry, but this did not happen.

Thus, when the economy took a nosedive during Bingu’s second term, people said it was because Gondwe was out of the picture

When he returned during Joyce Banda’s regime as minister of Economic Planning and Development, not Finance minister, Gondwe virtually looked like the Finance minister.

It is the reputation that he carved with Bingu that led the spirits to whisper into Joyce Banda’s ears to rope Gondwe in at that time of crisis. Unfortunately, political reasons led to his booting out of Cabinet after a few months.

Now that Gondwe is back, all eyes are on him to save Malawi from the current economic crisis. Donors have said they are not providing budgetary aid in the wake of Cashgate, and Gondwe just presented a zero-aid budget. Will he be able to redeem the country from the country economic mess?.

Banda had this to say about Goodall’s reputation: “I know that you may not need a job and we also know the credits attached to your name in the previous government.

“Our Economic Recovery Plan [ERP] lies in your ministry and I hope that you and your officers will do more than what the previous minister did,” said Banda during Gondwe’s swearing-in ceremony in 2012.

Indeed, Gondwe has proved to be a trusted economists who is results-oriented.

However, the question still remains as to whether his economic theories will fit in well with Mutharika’s, like they fitted in with Bingu’s first term.

This time, Gondwe must be extra careful. He is taking a risk of soiling his entire legacy he made during Bingu’s rein if the economy collapses under his watch.

On the other hand, he will become a real hero if the economy heals and start moving again.

Goodall will need to be objective as well, by leaving politics aside to focus on the general good of the country.

Whatever he chooses to do, Gondwe must ensure that the President, the poor farmer in village, the wretched factory workers, the town vendor and every other Malawian are waiting for him to improve the economy.