APM challenges Malawi economists to come up with ‘workable solutions’
President Peter Mutharika has challenged economists in the country to come up with workable solutions to deal with economic problems of the country than preaching doom.
Mutharika said this Thursday in Mangochi when he opened Economists Association of Malawi (Ecama) annual general meeting.
“Bring forward solutions that would inspire the nation than preaching doom,” said Mutharika to the professional delegates.
He said economists should strive to portray the economic situation in a way that inspires not in a way that leaves Malawians hopeless.
Mutharika said his government is set to take the right actions.
“We have no choice but to keep pushing forward peddles of the economy. And we are aggressively pursuing the Public Sector Reforms, including those on Public Finance Management. It is time to make the people trust their government. Give me the right advice, and I will give you the right decisions. Give us the best advice, and we will take the best of the actions. In that collective spirit, Malawi cannot fail,” said Mutharika.
“The economic reality is not as bad as some people want us believe,” said Mutharika.
In parliament though, Mutharika painted a gloomy future for Malawi, saying it will take time for the economy to bounce back to its old glory.
He said the present economic situation is a culmination of long history and some major external shocks that include floods and drought which are unavoidable.
The Malawi leader said the plunder of public resources in the infamous cashgate worsened the situation.
He said the loss of 40 percent of budgetary support from donors that would have been pumped into the economy knocked down the already fragile situation putting Malawi on a sick bed.
However, Mutharika said the situation would improve soon.
And speaking in Blantyre recently Mutharika claimed the economy would pick up in December or January next year a prediction that has been highly disputed by some economists.
In his address to the economists, Mutharika said the fundamentals of the economy are “ stronger today than they were 12 months ago.”
He said: “ Certainly, headline inflation is high granted the 24.1 percent as at September 2015; yes, 1.1 percent higher than the previous month. But, this is only 0.4percent higher than the same period last year. If you look at the numbers closely, on a year-on-year basis, it is the food inflation which is hitting us so hard now.”
Mutharika appealed to ECAMA to continue playing a positive advisory role on economic issues for Malawians to benefit from association’s services.
ECAMA is a forum of economists in Malawi and other interested parties that analyse economic-related issues and provide evidence-based policy advice that aims at improving economic management.
It was formally launched in 1999 as a voluntary membership organisation comprising a pool of professional economists from across the country and abroad.
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Mr president, ndalama za cash gate mutibwezele kaye, zinthu ziyamba kuyenda, paja mukusunga ndi inutu
Being a Law Professor does not qualify APM to govern the country. What does he know of politics and economics? Every time he opens his mouth in public he reveals how unsuited he is to govern. He only speaks in generalities and never in specifics. What precisely is he doing that will improve the economy in December and January? What exactly is being done to prepare the country for the effects of el Nino? How can anyone have faith and trust in him and his government when they have no idea what practical policies are being pursued? APM’s leadership is… Read more »
Solutions??? Hahahahahaha koma!!!!!! Pachithu pakakhala vuto pali vuto and vuto silimagona olo uthawe limakupezabe
Mr President can you assure us Malawians that you are now ready to take advices from other quarters! Advices have been given you in the past but have all fallen on deaf ears. If I may remind you for example; did you not get advised not to sale MSB? What did you do in response, you sold it. The problem with you is that you believe you are wiser than the next person. No you are not there are other things that others know better than you do. So learn to take advice my dear president. You can make a… Read more »
Mr President, you do not need economists to advise you. They will tell you the very same principles you already know but are reluctant to implement: accountability, cut down operational costs such as motorcades of fuel guzlers, obscene fuel allowances for your ministers, government/parastatal CEOs, reduce apetite for expensive cars for yourself and the aforementioned above.Why use an expensive 4 X 4 (V8) from Area 10 to Capital Hill when a simpleToyota Corolla/Camry would do excatly the same job at a quarter of the cost? Avoid un necessary Presidential trips both internal and external as such trips involves many people… Read more »
A real president was supposed to call the wise men of the land to a meeting. They should discuss how best they can tackle the problems the country is facing. Anything agreed on the meeting, the government should do. The woman Joice Banda did that it worked. Malawi is for all not dpp only.
Mr President Sir, any economist or politician will tell you that the prerequisite to offering your government solution to the immense economic problems that we Malawians face under your leadership, is in the following: 1) Stop all government procurement of drugs for hospitals, fertilizer and other government requirements from Indian traders In Malawi, instead procure these items from bona fide manufacturers who certify that they are not paying commissions to Indian traders in Malawi or any government minister or to you Mr President himself. This will stop corruption in your government. 2) Explain to us Malawians why you have failed… Read more »
Understanding sayings is for wise people what the President is saying and had been saying need wisdom to understand. Here he is asking economist and even ordinal malawians not only to say the negative part but to give solutions so as to improve the situation of the country. “Bring forward solution that can inspire the nation that preaching doom”, he said. Then what we need to do is not only to come with negatives without saying how can we improve to the positive side. So dear Malawians please can you bring positive solutions, remember facts are greater than many negative… Read more »
I thought its the same man who said the economic situation is bad in Malawi and no one should say ng’weng’we because Malawi is broke? This old man is too forgetful of what he says. Only fools can follow him.
so you mean that you have failed to run the country , now you want the economists to take over.