No honeymoon, says Mutharika: ‘Time to get Malawi functioning again’

Newly elected Malawi President Peter Mutharika has said his government will not have a luxury of settling down, saying he will get down to serious business right away pledging to target 7.5 percent annual growth over the next five years.

Mutharika, who defeated former president Joyce Banda in a contested election on May 20, said the government has” urgent work to do.”

He said Malawi is on the edge of collapsing.

“This country is dying. Organs of government departments are in a state of paralysis. The veins of the economy in the private sector and businesses are paralysed. The cost of living is no longer affordable by many anymore. We cannot even afford to heal those in pain because there is no medicine in our hospitals. It is time to get this country functioning again. And we have no time to waste,” said Mutharika.

Mutharika riding  wave of presidential support
Mutharika riding wave of presidential support

Speaking on Monday at the Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial capital, Blantyre during his inauguration as Head of State following May 20 presidential election victory, pledged to protect the public purse in order to provide adequate public services.

“These include quality health care to all Malawians, quality education, good infrastructure and investing in the creation of jobs.

“We need to invest in the creation of an efficient, motivated, results-oriented civil service which will be the catalyst for the creation of wealth. Our manifesto has promised to create new wealth, and we need a motivated and performing civil service to deliver our policies to the people,” said the 74-year-old former law professor at Washington University.
He said it is now “a new beginning” for Malawi.

“Because this is a new beginning we must walk together,” said Mutharika

“This is the will of the people. May the will of the people prevail as we move forward as one nation, one country, and one destiny! And may God grant us the courage to change the things we can, the serenity to discern the things we cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference,” he said.

Mutharika served in the cabinet of his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, whose death in office in April 2012 led to his deputy, Joyce Banda, becoming president.

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