IMF gives Malawi flicker of hope to resume lending

The International Monetray Fund (IMF) says it  will consider to resume extended credit facility (ECF) to Malawi in the 6th scheme after the end of mission to Malawi.

President Mutharika meets IMF Head of Mission Oral Williams at Kamuzu Palace - Pic by Stanley Makut
President Mutharika meets IMF Head of Mission Oral Williams at Kamuzu Palace – Pic by Stanley Makuti
President Mutharika, Finance Ministe and IMF mission at Kamuzu Palce- Pic by Stanley Makuti.
President Mutharika, Finance Ministe and IMF mission at Kamuzu Palce- Pic by Stanley Makuti.

Addressing a news conference in Lilongwe on Thursday, 18 December, 2014, the IMF representative in the country ,Oral Williams who was accompanied by  the Minister of Finance, Goodal Gondwe, said  the global lender’s mission and the Malawian authorities reached staff-level agreement on policies that could be supported under the ECF and the country would receive about US$20 million.

Williams said  policies geared toward bringing inflation down to single digits and increasing reserve coverage over the duration of the program were central to discussions with government.

“These encompassed measures to strengthen budget execution—key to ensuring delivery of its objectives—including safeguarding social spending, while maintaining a tight monetary stance to bring inflation to a downward trend,” he said.

IMF mission leader said the discussions also  focused on incorporating the recommendations of an IMF technical assistance mission on public financial management into the program.

“These recommendations are aimed at restoring financial controls and accountability in the face of the ‘Cashgate’ scandal,” said Williams.

“Addressing vulnerabilities in the financial sector that may have emerged in light of recent shocks faced by the economy were central to program discussions and included measures to strengthen the legal and regulatory frameworks to address sector-wide issues,” he added

Williams said for Malawi to receive support for EFC. he staff-level agreement is subject to review by the IMF’s management and its Executive Board in Washington. Consideration by the Executive Board is expected in early 2015.

The mission held discussions with President Peter Mutharika, Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe, Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor Charles Chuka, Secretary to the Treasury Ronald Mangani, other senior government and RBM officials as well as representatives of Malawi’s development partners.

“The mission expresses its gratitude for the constructive spirit in which discussions were held,” said Williams.

Gondwe said IMF were impressed woith the good economic initiatives that the Mutharika government has undertaken since May.

International donors withheld aid after more than $40 million in government funds went missing between April and September last year in a scandal known as cashgate.

Meanwhile, Malawi’s government reforms programme has started   scrutinizing its public services to identify posts that can be eliminated to save money in the African nation that relies on aid for 40 percent of its budget.

“We must begin now to transform our public service into a service that is answerable and accountable to the people of Malawi,” vice president Saulos Chilima said on Thursday, adding: “This government will maintain an absolute zero-tolerance policy on corruption, graft, bribery and theft in government.”

Malawi has trimmed its cabinet to 20 from 36 to save about $40 million over the next five years, said Chilima, who si also chairman of the Public Service Reform Commission.

The cuts are part of efforts to meet economic growth that at least matches the 6.1 percent forecast by the government for this year, Chilima said .

The ECF is the IMF’s main tool for medium-term financial support to low-income countries. It provides for a higher level of access to financing, more concessional terms, enhanced flexibility in program design, and more focused, streamlined conditionality. Financing under the ECF currently carries a zero interest rate, with a grace period of 5½ years, and a final maturity of 10 years.

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Samuel
Samuel
9 years ago

Some people do not appreciate. How can a wise go to donors and tell them not support Malawi. Utsogoleri amene aja udangowapeza mwa tsoka. They won’t benefit anything. If they go outside and perpetuate donors not to assist Malawi, where is patriotism there? They just expose there intellectual poverty. Mutharika and Chilima, just be busy with reforms don’t attend to these fools.

Ma battery a mlakho fweee fweee fweee mbofyo mbofyo

While NACGATE is stil’ fresh?K92 billion CASHGATE/BINGUGATE is un resolved?

BalakaGuy
BalakaGuy
9 years ago

Wise words nama,tell them,we are nganga pambuyo pa Peter,till 2019 and we shall again vote for dpp.

Josephy Lizibowah
Josephy Lizibowah
9 years ago

What the donors should know is that all the Malawians have now taken a lesson to monitor any activity being funded by the donors and taxpayers critically to avoid any mistake like what has happened in the cashgate scandal. According to the procedures that are supposed to be followed when carrying out any project, we have auditors, inspectors and the like who verify whether the activities are done according to the objectives of the projects. My special appeal goes to the donors to assist Malawi government as soon as possible. What I know actually is that president Prof Peter Mutharika… Read more »

Ma battery a mlakho fweee fweee fweee mbofyo mbofyo

Wasowa chokamba iwe Josephy Lizibowah.Nanga NACGATE?

JB
JB
9 years ago

The good thing about the president he does not waist time with these people FORWARD EVER BACKWARD NEVER.

guest
guest
9 years ago
Reply to  JB

Be Forward

Nama
Nama
9 years ago

Anthu onuyo mukalamba simunati .All you look for ndikunyoza using internet ya Ku office solo ya ma bundle .Anzanu they are working ndipo Peter tikupempherera day and night .He will succeed inu mukupangidwa dismiss. Chifukwa chokhalitsa pa Nyasa and not being productive. Chonecho mumatukwana.When God opens a door no one can close Peter’s door was opened and he is here to stay.

fkr
fkr
9 years ago

Yes borrow the money to pay the chinese for a stadium, presidential Manor, hotels and other items that don’t educate people

frank
frank
9 years ago

IMF chonde wosapatsa chithandizo amenewa m’paka atabweletsa report la mk92 billion yomwe inasowa muwulamuliro wa DPP

mbuya
9 years ago

Shaaaa…why cant IMF wait until we resolve the K92b robbery first?

Epolo
Epolo
9 years ago

Munthu akugwira ntchito ndipo azungu avowera khakhale kuti amayi anapita kumakanama bodza kumeneko. kuiwala kuti iwonso mayiwo ndi mmalawi. anthu omwe adzimwaliraku chipatala ndi abele awo

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