LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has welcomed President Peter Mutharika’s declaration that his administration is committed to a people centred government and a zero tolerance stance on corruption, describing the pledge as timely and critical for Malawi’s future.
President Mutharika made the remarks last Friday at Kamuzu Palace during the swearing in ceremony of newly appointed deputy ministers, where he vowed to fight corruption “to the last drop of his blood” and warned that no individual including those within his own government, would be treated as a sacred cow.
Addressing the news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Monday, CDEDI Director Sylvester Namiwa said the organisation is encouraged by the President’s resolve, noting that a truly people centred government must prioritise the aspirations and welfare of ordinary Malawians.
However, CDEDI cautioned that corruption remains a serious threat to the realisation of this vision, arguing that it disproportionately harms the very citizens government is meant to protect.
The organisation pointed to informal networks allegedly linking ministers, senior government officials and some businesspeople, particularly foreign nationals, which it says undermine transparency and accountability.
According to CDEDI, some cabinet ministers and top officials reportedly receive gifts even before assuming office, arrangements that later translate into inflated government contracts.
The organisation warns that such practices exert pressure on the national budget, compromise the quality of public infrastructure and result in perennial losses in parastatals and state owned enterprises, often forcing taxpayers to fund costly bailouts.
CDEDI also raised concern over recent remarks by Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralization, Joseph Mwanamvekha, who projected that a 50-kilogramme bag of maize would sell at MK20,000 by August this year.
The organisation said the statement cannot go unchallenged given Malawi’s heavy reliance on agriculture and maize as both a staple food and a cash crop.
The governance watchdog fears the projection could discourage maize production, especially in light of high fertiliser prices.
The grouing questioned how farmers could find maize farming profitable when production costs continue to rise while projected market prices remain comparatively low.
While acknowledging that lower maize prices can help contain inflation, CDEDI argued that government risks losing focus on its people-centred agenda if it concentrates only on consumer prices without clearly outlining incentives and support mechanisms for producers.
The organisation further warned against relying on imported maize as a cheaper alternative, stressing that Malawi’s sovereignty depends on effectively utilising its own land and natural resources to drive food security and economic growth.
CDEDI has therefore urged the Finance Minister to use the ongoing national budget consultations to explain how government intends to balance high production costs with projected maize prices, particularly clarifying its position on fertiliser pricing.
The organisation also called on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration to avoid repeating past mistakes, noting that it has been given a second chance to govern and must act decisively by appointing competent duty-bearers to critical positions.
On the economy, CDEDI expressed concern over persistent foreign exchange shortages in the formal market despite relative stability of the kwacha, observing that forex remains readily available on the parallel market a situation reminiscent of the previous administration.
CDEDI has appealed to the Finance Minister to prioritise measures that ensure availability of foreign exchange at official rates for importing raw materials, and challenged institutions such as the Reserve Bank of Malawi, the National Intelligence Service and the Financial Intelligence Authority to play an active role in addressing the forex crisis.
Despite the concerns, the organisation said it shares the optimism of many Malawians that President Mutharika’s leadership offers hope, urging him to guard his people centred agenda by acting swiftly against those who may be sabotaging his administration from within.