Politics, economic challenges... and stewardship

Radio and television stations have limited hours of English service in this country.  I therefore rely on newspapers to keep somehow updated on goings-on in the Malawian society.  Fortunately the press is rather outspoken, and deals blows both left and right.  It is hard to know how reliable they are on facts, but issues are brought out in ways that keep power-brokers on their toes.

During the last weeks a number of issues have coalesced into a serious question to the government's stewardship of Malawi's resources.  Earlier this year the Parliament adopted a national budget without external budget support, due to the so-called Cash-gate corruption scandal that rocked the nation in 2013-2014. "Austerity budget" was the term used about the budget.  This budget came on the tail of the devastating flood emergency that displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed major crops in January and February.  Soon reports started to emerge on shortfalls in health sector.  Drugs were not available, ambulances were grounded due to lack of money for fuel and repair, newly graduated nurses were not hired in the allocated jobs...

Ambulances grounded due to lack of money to buy fuel!

Two weeks ago the President declared a food-emergency, announcing that 2.8 million people would be in need of food aid during the next few months due to the failed crop season.  This week the Vice President used the figure 3.3 million people.

At the time of these announcements, an International Monetary Fund delegation visited the country and declared that the government was off track with their economic performance.  The spending has been too high, and a revision of the budget in order for the country to get on track is necessary.  Further tightening of the belt even more is necessary.  

The newspapers obviously follow these developments with critical eyes, and the government is constantly under fire for lack of action, for condoning corruption, and spending money wrongfully.

This last week media found a new issue to pursue.  When the President left for the opening session of UN General Assembly in New York, media claimed that he brought with him a delegation of more than 120 people.  This brought about a big uproar, since millions of US dollars were spent of taxpayers' money.  One of the very poorest countries of the world was sending an extremely bloated delegation "on shopping spree in New York" was the take in media.  While the President's spokesperson claimed that less than 20 people were in the President's delegation, sources within the US embassy informed that number of visas issued tells another story.

What type of stewardship are we witnessing?  Media ask:  "why is Malawi still extremely poor"?  There are obviously a complicated cocktail of answers that need to be explored. Political, economic and developmental analysts are offering their viewpoints in the newspaper pages.  No single solution is prescribed, but the fourth state power is attempting to do its job:  put important issues up for scrutiny and debate.  People in power are challenged.  How are they responding?  The jury is still out!