Malawi’s newly elected president, Professor Peter Mutharika, enters State House at a time when the country is battling soaring inflation, crippling forex shortages, and widespread hunger.
Citizens are eager to see whether his campaign promises can turn the tide for an economy that has strained under high debt, rising prices, and chronic shortages of essentials.
During the campaign, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) painted an ambitious picture of recovery-promising fiscal discipline, job creation, foreign exchange stability, and agricultural revitalisation.
Now, Malawians await action. Mutharika assumes office against a backdrop of: Inflation above 25 percent, pushing food and fuel beyond reach for many families: Agricultural distress, with poor rains and fertiliser shortages leaving millions food insecure; Debt burden consuming much of the national budget; Forex scarcity disrupting imports of fuel, medicines, and other basics.
As per Mutharika’s first address after election victory, his administration’s reform path can be understood in three areas short-term fixes, medium-term stabilisation, long-term transformation, and being the People’s President, should add governance reforms to the list.
Why is governance reform as a top priority? A lean but effective cabinet would be ideal against a bloated one ensuring critical ministries of Agriculture, Mining, Finance, Trade, Tourism, Education, and Health are staffed with competent leaders.
Mutharika should ensure efficiency and accountability form the backbone of his administration, reducing on duplication and corruption, while improving service delivery.
Focus should also go more on decentralization – empowering local councils to manage development funds and projects more directly.
And shifting to the other three key areas; in the short-term, focus should indeed go to fighting hunger through maize imports and timely input distribution of inputs to farmers, easing shortages by securing forex lines to import fuel and medicines as well as working hard to stabilize the Kwacha by engaging the IMF and enforcing strict fiscal discipline.
In the medium-term, boost farm productivity with irrigation, crop diversification, and reliable fertilizer supply making the Agriculture Ministry at the hub.
There will be need to strengthen forex flows by promoting exports (and not external borrowing) and removing bottlenecks for traders.
There will also be need to ensure energy security through fuel reserves and investment in renewables. And also a greater need to tighten public finances with improved revenue collection and spending control.
In the long-term, there will be need to achieve food self-sufficient through large-scale farming (and not those cosmic small-mega farms) and agro-processing.
The need to diversify the economy into mining, manufacturing, and tourism to reduce over-dependence on tobacco. The need to secure healthcare by localizing pharmaceutical production. The need to ensure debt sustainability by reducing borrowing and attracting long-term investment.
The success of these promises will depend on how quickly the administration can move from speeches to action. Malawians now, are more clear-eyed about what has been, what is and what lies ahead. So Mutharika may be good at rhetoric, but the success of his administration will be measured by walking the talk through concrete actions.
So as the country gears forward to the inauguration of the 7th President of the Republic, we are being reminded that, reform is a shared responsibility, not just the President’s.
And just as John F. Kennedy once challenged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, Malawians, too, are being called to play their part.
For reforms to succeed, citizens must embrace responsibility, resilience, and sacrifice alongside their leaders. For Malawians, the lesson is clear: development requires shared sacrifice, strong governance, and long-term commitment.
We have visionary leadership in Mutharika. We need zero tolerance for corruption. We need to invest in our people through education and skill development as well as formulate pragmatic policies. Let us all remember always that, planning is key.
