More of same for Malawi?
Serious turnaround strategies are needed for any meaningful progress to take place
MALAWI is holding presidential, parliamentary and local government elections at the same time, on May 21, amidst endemic corruption, the increasing ethnicisation of politics and rising violence against minorities, women and albinos.
The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), led by President Peter Mutharika, 78, since 2014, and which has performed woefully in government, seeks another five-year term.
Mutharika’s brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, was the former president.
Nine candidates are vying for the presidency, but only three are likely to pose a serious challenge to Mutharika.
Lazarus Chakwera, 64, is a former pastor who leads the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the independence party, which governed the country as a oneparty state since independence from colonialism in 1964 to 1994, when multiparty politics was introduced.
Saulos Chilima, 46, is Malawi’s deputy president who, after falling out with Mutharika, quit the DPP last year to found his own party, the United Transformation Movement (UTM).
Atupele Muluzi, 40, is health minister in Mutharika’s cabinet and the youngest presidential candidate. Muluzi, who leads the United Democratic Front (UDF), is in a parliamentary alliance with the DPP.
Political parties also centre on personalities, ethnicity and regions, rather than ideology, policies or issues. Lack of issue-based politics encourages ethnic, regionalism and personality politics.
The north is dominated by the People’s Party (PP), the centre by the MCP, the south by the DPP and the east by the UDF.
Governing parties often use state resources, media and platforms to aid their campaigns – this election year is no different. Insulting the leader is illegal in Malawi. The government has intimidated the independent media, under the guise of non-compliance with tax laws.
In 2017, the government said it would introduced what is called the Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management System (CIRMS) to monitor mobile network operators, ostensibly to check service quality, fraud and spectrum management. However, civil society organisations fear it will be used to monitor phone calls and text messages, of citizens and government critics. Police are frequently accused of corruption, crime and brutality.
Malawi has one of the world’s highest rates of child marriage, with half of the country’s girls married before the age 18.
The abductions, murders and prejudice against those suffering from albinism have reached terrifying levels, with UN figures showing more than 150 people killed since 1994.
Last year, Malawi ranked 120 out of 180 countries on levels of corruption in Transparency International’s global corruption index.
In 2014, a third of the country’s national budget disappeared.
The majority of Malawians are poor, with more than 60% eking out a living on US$2 a day. More than 70% of Malawi’s population are youth.
Young people make up more than half of the country’s 6.8 million voters. The most optimistic surveys showed unemployment in Malawi at 21% and youth unemployment at 30%.
The public service should become more merit-based. The country’s large numbers of unemployed youth need vocational and technical training to become self-employed.
Malawi’s economy is agriculture-based, with the sector accounting for nearly 65% of formal employment. One-third of the country’s GDP and 80% of export earnings comes from agriculture. More than 53% of the country’s exports comprise tobacco products. Imports of basic food, services and equipment account for just 25% of GDP.
Mining contributes of 1% of GDP. The country has unexplored mineral deposits. Informal artisanal gold miners, mainly women, eke a living panning gold, often illegally. The government should help organise informal
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Only 32 women were elected to the 193-seat National Assembly William Gumede CHAIRMAN: DEMOCRACY WORKS FOUNDATION
gold miners into co-operatives, provide training and market opportunities.
Malawi needs to diversify its economy. It must expand its manufacturing sector, focusing not only on making basic products the country needs, but also on exports.
Foreign donors will have more development impact if they fund the expansion of vocational training.
Ultimately, Malawi needs electoral reforms which discourage ethnic or regional-based parties, and makes it compulsory for political parties to have members and leaders from all regions.
Parties must be compelled to have gender and youth parity in their leadership and decision-making structures.
In the 2014 elections only 32 women were elected to the 193-seat National Assembly. Governing parties must be more inclusive of all regions, ethnic groups and involve opposition parties in government.