BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The 2025 Malawi Barometer report, crafted by Eddah Jowah, Rebekah Cross, and Matron Muchena, offers a detailed and sobering examination of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) government’s performance over its first five-year term.
Drawing on the Malawi Citizens Watch Tracker, this report systematically measures the government’s fulfillment of 204 electoral promises made during the 2020 campaign, providing an invaluable tool for transparency and informed citizen engagement ahead of the 2025 elections.
At its core, the report seeks to answer a critical question: have the new political leaders delivered on their pledges, or do old challenges continue to thwart progress? The findings underscore a complex reality—while some advances have been made, many promises remain partially or wholly unfulfilled, reflecting the enduring difficulties Malawi faces across multiple sectors.
The report segments the government’s agenda into five key areas: economy, governance, corruption, social services, and climate change.
This categorization allows for a nuanced analysis of the government’s successes and shortcomings in each domain.
The methodology is rigorous, relying on triangulated data from government ministries, media outlets, and international organizations, thus ensuring the objectivity of the evaluation.
In the economic sphere, the government confronted a challenging landscape marked by global economic volatility and domestic constraints.
While Malawi has seen some positive developments, such as increases in maize production and efforts to boost agricultural productivity through programs like the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), economic transformation at scale remains elusive.
The report highlights that despite government initiatives, poverty alleviation and job creation have not progressed at the rate voters expected.
The macroeconomic indicators, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, reveal a mixed picture—improvements in certain subsectors contrast with persistent vulnerabilities, especially among rural populations.
Governance, another critical sector, reveals both progress and persistent challenges.
The government has made strides in strengthening institutional frameworks and revising legislation, including efforts to protect Malawian land ownership rights.
However, issues around political inclusivity and transparency continue to hamper full democratic consolidation.
The report points to ongoing concerns about electoral processes, the impartiality of key institutions, and the engagement of civil society in policymaking.
Corruption remains one of Malawi’s most stubborn problems, and the report’s findings suggest that while there have been notable attempts to combat graft—such as implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) and the National Action Response Plan (NAP)—the impact has been limited.
Deep-rooted systemic corruption and the occasional politicization of anti-corruption efforts undermine public trust and weaken the rule of law.
The report underscores the need for sustained, independent anti-corruption mechanisms that can operate free from political interference.
Social services, including health and education, illustrate both government commitment and resource challenges.
Progress has been made in expanding access to social safety nets like the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) program, and there have been targeted initiatives to protect vulnerable groups, such as persons with albinism.
Nonetheless, the quality and reach of services remain uneven across regions, and gaps in infrastructure and human resources limit the full realization of policy goals.
The report emphasizes that strengthening social services must remain a priority if Malawi is to achieve inclusive development.
Climate change, an increasingly urgent issue for Malawi, receives focused attention in the report. The government has developed policies to mitigate environmental impacts and adapt to climate variability, recognizing the threat to agriculture and livelihoods.
However, implementation has been uneven, and financial constraints impede large-scale interventions.
The report calls for enhanced international cooperation and domestic resource mobilization to better address climate resilience.
The broader lesson from this assessment is that new leadership alone is not enough to overcome entrenched challenges.
While the MCP government has demonstrated some capacity for policy innovation and responsiveness, structural issues—ranging from governance deficits to economic vulnerabilities—continue to limit transformative change. The report’s evidence-based approach offers a clear-eyed view that can help citizens and policymakers alike to recalibrate expectations and strategies.
Importantly, the 2025 Malawi Barometer report is not just an accountability tool; it is a democratic instrument designed to empower Malawians.
By illuminating the gaps between political promises and tangible outcomes, the report encourages informed voting decisions and fosters a culture of transparency and civic engagement.
The African Citizens Watch (ACW) platform, under the SIVIO Institute’s Centre for Civic Engagement, has expanded this model of government tracking beyond Malawi to other Southern African countries, underscoring the regional importance of such initiatives.
As Malawi approaches its 2025 elections, the findings of this report should serve as a clarion call for all political actors to commit to genuine performance and accountability.
The electorate, armed with this comprehensive analysis, is better positioned to demand a government that not only pledges reform but delivers it.
Equally, policymakers must heed the lessons about the persistent barriers to progress, recognizing that sustainable development requires concerted, well-resourced, and inclusive efforts across all sectors.
The Malawi Barometer 2025 report reveals a government marked by new faces but still grappling with many of the same challenges that have long confronted the nation.
It is a candid reflection on the promise and reality of governance in Malawi, offering both hope and a roadmap for moving forward.
The true test for Malawi’s democracy will be whether this evidence leads to greater accountability and improved lives for all Malawians in the years ahead.
