IMF says Mutharika rebuilding trust after cashgate destroyed Malawi’s macroeconomic outlook
The International Monetary Fund has said after it resolved to immediately disburse about $18.1 million (K7.6 billion) to Malawi, one of Africa’s poorest economies , that new government of President Peter Mutharika has committed to rebuild trust in public institutions after the 2013 cashgate scandal saw the country losing about K20 billion r of public funds through looting, theft and corruption.
The IMF imposed the suspension last quarter of 2013 following revelations that top government officials looted billions from government coffers in a cashgate scandal.
The scandal saw the country with almost 37 per cent of its budget coming from foreign support losing financial support and aid injection from IMF and other western countries.
In a statement after approving the resumption of aid to Malawi Mitsuhiro Furusawa, IMF Acting Chair and Deputy Managing Director said the new government [of President Peter Mutharika] has committed to rebuild trust in public institutions.
“The new administration is committed to rebuilding trust in public institutions and bringing the IMF-supported program back on track, including through maintaining a flexible exchange rate regime and the automatic fuel pricing mechanism,” said the fund.
The IMF says the breach of governance resulted in the suspension of budget support from donors, which has led to increased recourse to central bank financing, accumulation of domestic arrears, exchange rate depreciation, and high inflation.
According to the fund, Malawi’s macroeconomic outlook and performance under the IMF-supported programme was significantly damaged by a large scale theft of public funds and by policy lapses in the run-up to elections but the Fund is positive about the current administration.
The fund added that bringing inflation down to single digits and boosting official foreign exchange reserves remain key policy objectives.
Meanwhile, the National Statistical Office (NSO) in Zomba has said Malawi year-on-year headline inflation for February 2015 as measured by the consumer price index (CPI) eased 1.5 percentage points to 19.7 percent buoyed by the drop in food and non-food prices.
In the monthly Stats Flash, NSO said: “Overall, food inflation stands at 19 percent from 21.5 percent in January 2015. Although food prices have gone up, the rate of increase is much lower than the corresponding rate in the same period last year.”
University of Malawi’s Chancellor College economics professor Ben Kaluwa said since the country is heading towards the harvest period, inflation rate is expected to fall further.
IMF has called on Malawi government to address weaknesses in public financial management in order to restore confidence in the budget process and foster donor re-engagement.
“The authorities’ steadfast implementation of a comprehensive strategy in this area remains an urgent policy priority,” added the fund.
“The central bank is committed to tightening monetary policy as needed to keep inflation on a downward path. Measures taken in late 2014 have already helped reduce liquidity and stabilize the currency. Steps underway to curb deficit financing by the central bank should enhance the credibility of monetary policy.”
The fund said improved prudential and regulatory frameworks are key to safeguarding the financial sector’s stability and supporting growth adding that the recently-completed diagnostic assessments of the banking system will be used to design a strategy to address sector-wide issues.
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God job a peter but awa a imf ndi mbavadi basi anazolowera kugwadiridwa etii so now they know that now Malawi’s in hands of a depromat man of he’s goals
Weldone Peter & ur admin. Pamepa ndiye tauyambadi ulendo. Wasalawasala
IMF. Taking advantage of the poor. APM cares not, he is a Billionaire. Putting the Country at stake of debts for the sake of the rich and famous. This ngongole will end up in their offshore accounts.
Thank you,guys all of the comments, but am suprised , palibe akutsutsa kuti izi nzabodza,kkk ,,kkkkkkk,kkkkk,kkkkk mwakhala chete, khalani chete,chete yemweyo muyankhula basi, ndimmene zimakhalira, .Thegood thing is the IMF is developing , through helping MALAWI, Malawi is you and me
Mwachaje satafuna, we must applaud both the PP and DPP government because this whole review process started with PP government and DPP never derailed but to continue and we all can now say job well done…pitilizani ma program odzutsa nso economy ya dzikoli.
you have just seen kuti zinthu zikutiyendera popanda ngongole zanuzo ndiye mwasowa ma customer pitani nazo ndalalma zanu za katapilazo kumayiko ena anganya inu a IMF.Mungandiuzepo dziko lomwe linali losauka lero linalemera chifukwa cha katapila wanuyo?
My foot 92 gone IMF stupid
Phew! Thanks IMF my project was at a standstill. Now I can finish building my mansion in area 43
What a surprise. So IMF has agreed to resume supporting the country. While poor Malawians cannot see the performance of the government, the IMF who knows to measure performance can see that the country is doing well especially its leadership. IMF, you need to share the key performance indicators you use so that Malawians can start thinking wide. Please share them with Raphael Tenthani so that he can use them to measure the performance of the president because his key performance indicators are words of Napoleon or other people who give him thought of the day. APM and your team… Read more »
Congratulations to the DPP administration, you have started well. Continue to build and never mind the naysayers in the opposition, media and uncivil society.