LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Persistent economic challenges over the past 10 years continue to place significant strain on the national budget, severely limiting the government’s capacity to respond to growing public needs.
The pressure has been exacerbated by limited fiscal space, forcing authorities to prioritize essential expenditures while postponing or scaling back critical development projects.
Speaking during a pre-budget presentation meeting in Lilongwe, Minister of Finance Joseph mwanamvekha acknowledged the severity of the situation, saying that the government is operating under extremely tight financial conditions.
Mwanamvekha said the cumulative impact of these constraints has negatively affected service delivery in key sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure.
“The pressure on the national budget is the result of challenges that have built up over several years,”
Mwanamvekha said, “Increased debt-servicing costs, economic shocks, and reduced external support have all contributed to the current constraints.”
He added that the government is implementing measures to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization and improve expenditure efficiency, but cautioned that limited resources remain a major challenge.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that critical public services are maintained,”
“However, difficult choices are unavoidable under the current fiscal environment
He further said rising operational costs, coupled with declining revenue streams, have further constrained available resources, a situation previously highlighted in official financial reports,”he said.
Meanwhile, the Economics Association of Malawi(CAMA) Bertha Bangara Chikadza has warned that without sustained fiscal reforms and enhanced resource mobilization, budgetary pressures are likely to persist, potentially slowing the country’s broader development agenda.
