By Rick Dzida
- In the first place, President Chakwera pretends that it is the first time for him to thank the Judiciary for nullifying 2019 presidential elections. First, Modecai Msisha and Chikosa Silungwe were appeased with Minister of justice and Attorney General positions respectively. Second, Ms. Agnes Patemba, the erstwhile Registrar of the High Court and Supreme court of appeal , who handled the elections case was sent to the embassy. Third, Andrew Nyirenda was later reinstated as the Chief Justice . Fourth, funds allocated to the Judiciary during this fiscal year has been increased. Fifth, many Judiciary staff have been promoted. Sixth, the state of art office complex for the Judiciary will be constructed.
- It is mindboggling that President Chakwera wants to fix long term problems when short term ones haven’t been resolved. He titled his address as “Fixing the systems to deliver long term priorities and diffuse short term pressures. For instance, if you can’t fix short term basic needs such as food, shelter and security in your household, how can you fix long term wishes such as house construction?
- It is good news that Chakwera Government has revived the construction of COMESA Competition Commission and COMESA Federation of Women in Business Complexes which stalled for 8 years
- Nchalo Greenbelt Limited will be completed by June 2024.
Inflation rate has increased from 8.6 % in 2020 to 9.3% in 2021.
Availability of foreign exchange to facilitate imports decreased in 2021.
Kwacha depreciated resulting in the surge in prices of imported commodities.
Donor support is declining leading to reduced gross official reserveds in December 2021 to 1.72 months from 2.75 months in December 2020.
To control public over-expenditure, benefits and entitlements of senior government officials including the President and vice president will be reviewed.
Procurement of motor vehicles will be reduced
Ministries and Departments will need to seek approval from Treasury before new recruitment.
All Government institutions must install and use prepaid meters for utilities.
Digitise and automate Goverment operations
Procure security equipment and fertilizer directly from manufacturers.
Recruit competent graduates in accounting to manage IFMIS
Operationalize debt fund to service rising public debt
Job centres are being established in all four cities of Malawi.
Chikwawa, Nsanje, Mangochi, Zomba, Lilongwe and Nkhatabay districts are food insufficient.
Affordable input subsidy programme suffered systematic disruptions and delays.
Industrial Parks to be established in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu.
Industrial Research and innovation centre for steel production will be established
Malawi expects to exploit markets in India and China in addition to European Union and SADC markets
Elsewedy Egyptian multinational company signed a memorandum of intent to bring investment to Malawi worth $1 billion.
Access to electricity increased from 11.4% to 12.4%. Average electricity capacity increased from 364MW to 617.1MW
M1 road will be dualized and rehabilitated.
Various roads, railway lines and bridges will be constructed, upgraded or rehabilitated.
European Investment Bank will finance the construction of Orton Chirwa Airport in Mzuzu.
Exactly 1,246 health workers have been recruited.
Entire health supply chain will be digitised.
Construction of Phalombe district hospital is complete. Ground work for the construction of chikwawa hospital will comment next year.
Construction of 56 health posts started and 145 posts will begin in 2022/23 fiscal year.
Primary school compulsory education will be enforced.
Construction of 250 secondary schools commenced
UNIMA was successfully delinked.
About 231 houses out 10,000 are to be constructed for security institutions.
A 24 floor twin tower to be constructed for Ministries and Departments.
LAN has been installed in 15 buildings at Capital Hill.
A good number of 16 schools, 2 markets and hospitals will have free public WiFi services.
About 42 billion kwacha has been disbursed to 293, 522 households to meet their basic needs during this economic global crisis.
Government has assisted 587 leavers with albinism with protective equipment and school fees.
Exactly 11,729 children have been rescued from child marriages.
Exactly 166 Malawian diplomats have been deployed to foreign missions.
Civil procedures Act will be amended to establish a Committee responsible for making recommendations to Attorney General.
Send feedback to: Rick Dzida, email:rdzida@gmx.com
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor
