By SIVIO Institute:
As Malawi approaches its pivotal 2025 elections, a critical question to ask is whether promises made to citizens in the run-up to the last elections have been fulfilled.
The report – “New Faces, Same Challenges”, produced by pan-African Think Tank SIVIO Institute, provides an answer to this question.
The report is a five-year assessment of the performance of the Government of Malawi from June 2020 to May 2025. It offers a data-driven answer.
It tracks 204 campaign commitments across five sectors: Economy, Governance, Corruption, Social Services, and Climate Change, providing a rare, evidence-based lens on political accountability.
The findings are sobering. Of the 204 promises made, 14 promises were fully implemented, while 138 remain in progress. 10 promises were broken, and 42 show no measurable progress.
Overall, the government scored 39 percent on delivery. The strongest performance was in the Economy sector, with a 44 percent score, while Social Services lagged at 33 percent, showing persistent gaps in education, healthcare, and basic service provision.
Malawi’s economic landscape during this period was marked by turbulence. Hyperinflation soared above 30 percent, foreign exchange and fuel shortages disrupted daily life, and public debt rose to MK16.19 trillion, 85% of GDP by September 2024. Poverty remained widespread, with 71% of Malawians living below the poverty line in 2025.
Yet, amid these challenges, there were some important actions: the revival of the Junior Certificate of Education (JCE), expanded access to electricity and broadband, and the enactment of new land laws aimed at safeguarding Malawian ownership.
While new anti-corruption courts were introduced and land reform initiatives gained traction, high-level corruption scandals and unfulfilled governance promises continued to erode public trust.
Climate resilience and social sector investments did advance, but progress was often slowed by fiscal constraints, climate shocks, and implementation bottlenecks.
This five-year assessment provides Malawian citizens, civil society, and the media with an independent reference point as the country prepares to vote. It is a call for greater transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in shaping Malawi’s future.
For access to the full Malawi Barometer report and sector-specific data, go to: https://doi.org/10.59186/SI.JN99GHGX
