LILONGWE: (MaraviPost): The World’s economic think tank, Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) through its Magazine, The Economist has given the incumbent President Peter Mutharika an edge over the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Leader Lazurus Chakwera in 2019 Malawi’s elections.
In its 2016 second quarter forecast report for Malawi dated June 28, 2016, EIU disclosed that regionalist politics, disorganization of opposition parties makes President Mutharika as the frontline winner in 2019 elections.
However, the economic think tank sees MCP President Chakwera as Mutharika’s biggest threat with his anti-corruption platform embarked so far across the country through political rallies.
The Magazine further predict that if the country’s economic woes fail to improve before the elections, Chakwera stands a better chance to outsmart Malawi President Peter Mutharika.
The report disputes the People Party (PP) leader Joyce Banda’s popularity saying she remains weak politically on the ground following revelations of widespread misappropriation of public funds during her two-year tenure.
“We expect Mr. President to stand for re-election and since regional affiliations ultimately determine the outcome of Malawi polls, the incumbent’s continuing popularity in the most populous Southern region will give him an edge.
“The MCP and its leader, Lazurus Chakwera will campaign on one message of anti-corruption, but it will struggle to offer any viable policy alternative.
“Nevertheless, should an economic recovery fail to take hold prior to the polls, the MCP and Chakwera stand to gain over Mutharika,” predicated the EIU Magazine.
Meanwhile both MCP and PP have trashed the report arguing that it’s not a reflection on the ground due to numerous social economic challenges Malawians are facing since the Mutharika took reins of power from Joyce Banda.
“It’s precisely meant to look at the people and if anyone is interested in following what has been happening even contributions of Members of Parliament, it shows that its opposition that is striking and has points. We are on the right direction and focused that we can take the nation forward not DPP,” challenged Chakwera.
On his part, Uladi Mussa Acting PP President concurred with Chakwera arguing that the report was misleading saying DPP led government was currently losing its ground for failing to fix the social-economic ills.
Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) is a British company intensely global on the research and analysis. It’s a division of The Economist Group, the sister company to The Economist newspaper.
Created in 1946, EIU has nearly 70 years’ experience in helping businesses, financial firms and governments to understand how the world is changing and how that creates opportunities to be seized and risks to be managed.
The company services clients across the world from 24 offices whose staff members speak over 25 languages while embracing foreign cultures with a passion.
