President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Social gathering. Picture: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP
Malawi’s elections in September are more likely to be some of the consequential within the nation’s latest historical past. President Lazarus Chakwera, who rose to energy in 2020 as a logo of hope after the notorious “Tipex elections” has since change into a disappointment to many Malawians. His administration, initially celebrated for its dedication to democracy and reform, is now marred by financial struggles, corruption scandals, and unfulfilled guarantees.
Including to the political drama, former president Peter Mutharika, who was ousted within the court-ordered re-run, seeks a comeback. Towards this backdrop, the election is greater than only a contest for energy; it’s a check of Malawi’s democracy, the resilience of its establishments and the individuals’s demand for accountability.
Chakwera’s administration promised to create a thriving economic system and sort out youth unemployment, together with an formidable pledge to create a million jobs. It was precisely what a citizenry struggling to seek out significant employment needed to listen to. The worldwide group initially rewarded Chakwera’s efforts to root out systemic and electoral corruption, seeing it as a recent begin for Malawi. However these hopes have since pale.
As an alternative of making alternatives at dwelling, the federal government has resorted to sending Malawian youths to work on farms in Israel below what many see as an affordable labour deal, a transfer broadly criticised and dubbed as human trafficking and slave commerce orchestrated by the best workplace within the land.
Over the previous few years, Chakwera’s authorities has more and more adopted the identical troubling patterns of its predecessor, the Democratic Progressive Social gathering (DPP). Slightly than breaking away from previous failures, the brand new administration has delivered the identical sample of unhealthy governance, the blossoming of corruption networks, the usage of state assets to guard these accused of corruption, the continuation of nepotism, wasteful expenditure, lack of imaginative and prescient and planning, lack of curiosity in motion, and, extra importantly, an elevated deal with appearances, false guarantees and self-promotion. This has left many Malawians feeling betrayed by a authorities they as soon as believed would carry transformative change.
The Catholic Church, an influential voice in Malawi, has overtly referred to as out Chakwera’s authorities for corruption, looting public funds, failed financial insurance policies and a looming starvation disaster. These accusations come because the nation struggles to get better from Cyclone Freddy, throughout which many Malawians had been left with out ample assist from the federal government.
The most recent Afrobarometer survey confirms what most Malawians already imagine the nation is on the incorrect observe. Seventy-six % of respondents imagine Malawi is heading within the incorrect route, with widespread dissatisfaction over the federal government’s failure to handle the economic system, maintain costs steady and create jobs. A snapshot of key financial indicators paints a grim image: fertilizer costs have risen by 250%, maize costs have elevated by 50%, sugar costs are up by 30% and bread costs by 40%. Transportation prices have jumped by 60%, additional straining family budgets, whereas the general value of residing has surged by 50%.
The nation has additionally struggled with fundamental providers. Malawi confronted a extreme scarcity of passport booklets, forcing the federal government to droop the printing of passports. The disaster escalated to the purpose the place all non-essential journey for presidency officers was banned as a part of cost-cutting measures. These incidents additional fuelled public frustration and broken the federal government’s credibility.
Including to the stress is the latest determination by the US to chop USAid funding, a transfer that has dealt a extreme blow to Malawi’s struggling economic system. With overseas assist enjoying a vital function in supporting social programmes, the withdrawal of this funding has left the nation’s poorest residents extra susceptible than ever.
The overseas alternate disaster, exacerbated by the devaluation of the kwacha, has made imports dearer and pushed the nation deeper into financial hardship. In the meantime, the federal government has struggled to handle a extreme gas disaster, with frequent shortages disrupting day by day life and financial exercise.
Past these issues, Chakwera has earned a repute as a “touring president,” regularly happening journeys overseas, usually accompanied by members of the family. Some of the embarrassing moments was when he flew to London to attend a digital convention, a transfer that grew to become a logo of poor judgment and wasteful expenditure. With the nation dealing with mounting crises and rising disillusionment, the query now could be: will Chakwera be a one-term president?
With elections simply months away, public sentiment is evident: Malawians need change. In keeping with Afrobarometer, 43% of residents would vote for the opposition DPP if elections had been held right now, in comparison with 29% for the ruling Malawi Congress Social gathering (MCP).
Notably 84% of Malawians say they’ll “undoubtedly” vote within the upcoming election, signalling excessive public engagement and a possible turning level for the nation. What’s shocking is that Malawians now appear wanting to vote again the exact same DPP they booted out for its vanity and nepotistic tendencies.
One wonders why Malawians have an insatiable urge for food for recycling unhealthy and poor management. Are Malawians prisoners of hope, always believing that change is only one election away and in recycling failed leaders? Many had banked on the late vice-president, Saulos Chilima, as their go-to chief for the 2025 elections, regardless of lingering scepticism due to his failed tenures with each ruling events. However his demise has left a management vacuum, forcing many to rethink the DPP as the one acquainted choice.
With new candidates like Dalitso Kabambe and Michael Usi failing to encourage widespread confidence, the DPP, regardless of its previous failures, seems to be the one certain factor for voters in search of stability. However, as thinker Joseph de Maistre as soon as stated, “Each nation will get the federal government it deserves.”
Chakwera’s latest State of the Nation tackle (Sona) solely strengthened public frustration. Whereas some praised its district-focused strategy as an indication of accountability, many seen it as a political marketing campaign software reasonably than a blueprint for fixing Malawi’s pressing issues. The speech lacked concrete options to the nation’s worsening financial disaster, corruption and the gas procurement considerations which have plagued his administration. As an alternative of addressing these urgent points with urgency, Chakwera appeared extra centered on defending his file and discrediting the opposition.
The tackle failed to supply a transparent roadmap for the nation’s future, additional deepening public disillusionment. Within the face of rising hardship, the Sona has left Malawians questioning whether or not their chief actually understands the gravity of their struggles or is just positioning himself for re-election.
As Malawians head to the polls, the query is not only whether or not they’ll give Chakwera a second likelihood however whether or not the nation can afford one other 5 years of his management. Malawi’s future will depend on daring, decisive management that may break away from the cycle of dependency, corruption and poor governance.
The following administration should deal with diversifying the economic system to cut back reliance on imports and overseas assist, investing in vital sectors significantly agriculture and manufacturing, and tackling corruption head-on to revive public belief in governance.
Tamanda P Liabunya is an African Girls Management Scholar pursuing an MPA with a specialisation in African politics and battle decision.
Nyasha McBride Mpani is the undertaking chief for the Information for Governance Alliance undertaking on the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation based mostly in Cape City.