Malawi continue to perform poor on human development: UNDP launches report
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the flagship 2016 global human development report under the theme: “Human development for everyone” which has ranked Malawi 170 out of the 188 countries in the world a clear indication that more work needs to be done.
According to the report, more Malawians continue to live in acute poverty as only 56.1 per cent of the population being multidimensionality poor while 27.2 per cent live near multidimensional poverty.
Furthermore a larger population of the country is believed to have challenges in accessing education as well as improved health services.
Apart from that, the report further notes that the gap between the rich and poor continue to widen up with the rural population being the most marginalized in all aspects of development.
Speaking during the presentation of the index report held in Lilongwe at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) Wednesday, United Nations Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo explained that Malawi has succeeded in developing the country in a number of areas.
She cited the fight against HIV/AIDS and the country’s life expectancy from less than 50 years in 2005 to over 63 years in 2015 which indicates an increase of 46.4 per cent Malawi’s progress on human development between 1990 and 2015.
“There has been a significant improvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS and country’s life expectancy on which the country should be proud of, this achievement signifies some good work in health care,” Resident Coordinator said.
Mia said Malawi must put more effort in improving education in rural area highlighting that teacher-pupil ratio needs to be reduced to improve education standards in the country.
“Malawi should invest more in education and rural sectors,” she said.
She said Malawi is facing a stiff pressure on land, financial resources, energy and environment due to the population boom.
The UN Resident Representative pointed out that this could be avoided if the population as well as resources made available to this country could be well and properly managed.
“The human development index report is good measurement trend for proper planning. What it therefore mean is that, Malawi as country need to minimize its expenditures while at the same time use the resources in special areas where required,” Seppo explained.
Minister of Finance, Economic, Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe said Malawi is not the worst in human development compared to its neighbouring countries which is a great improvement to the country.
He pleaded to Malawians not to lose hope and to work with determination by not relying on a third party.
“In human development we are much better than our neighbours, which is satisfying to Malawians, and we should not lose hope that we cannot achieve,” he said.
Gondwe concluded by saying it is possible to achieve if Malawians make decisions their own and use the little they have to develop the country.
The Finance Minister was quick to comment that within a period of 50 years, Malawi has done tremendously well despite the numerous calamities the country faced.
“We had a good number of challenges some being withdraw of donor aid. But suffice to say that, that has helped us to grow and mature since we are now managing our recurrent expenditures with our locally generated resources.
“The only support we need now is for developmental projects,” said Gondwe appealing to Malawi’s to work hard.
The 2016 Human Development report should trigger discussion how Malawi could bridge the social and economic gaps by various groups.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Dausi ndi Muthalika tatsutsani report ya UNDP. Akalemba a Malawi anzanu zakulephera kwanu mumati anakafunsa ntchentche nanga azunguwa ntchentche anakumana nazo kuti???? Failled leaqdership.
Malawi will continue to live in an economic stagnation due to its rowdy p0litical mishap since the two Muthalikas entered the arena decades ago.As far as the political trend of the country is crooked,national development is at risk of unworkability and this is what we see today.However,Banda’s 32 years of unruly leadership,contributed to this tragedy.First and foremost,he introduced a divisive and evil QUOTA SYSTEM tantamount to former South Africa’s APARTHEID SYSTEM that coerced Africans to learn in AFRIKAANS (BOER) that precipited national upheaval from 1976-1994 and later to freedom.When the evil quota system was dully imposed to the people of… Read more »
This is interesting, where are those who usually rubbish any negative rating of our performance levels?
Just recently, Dr Dulani and his colleagues were called all sorts of names for stating one of the key indicators of good performance – trust in leadership. One cabinet minister was seen forming as he hurled insults at our esteemed academic dons. Why is he eerily quite this time around?
Surely UNDP must have used flies to come up with their findings?
Gondwe is mistaken. Of our neighbours only Mozambique is below Malawi at 181. Tanzania is at 151, which 19 places better than Malawi. And Zambia is even “medium human development” at place 139. So even when compared with our neighbours we are not doing that well.
the report is a wake up call for Malawians,,,,particularly policy makers, CSOs, politicians, and donors to unite efforts towards policy framework that fits Malawi’s poverty alleviation programs…… Government should establish a permanent working plan that is not altered by regime change or political influence…… The report give Malawians a direction that focuses more on education…..Yes education is a good indicator of human development….. But how do we reduce poverty amongst Malawians is a question of debate over a period of 50yrs… As a country we should put our areas development in a good older and determine what is required most… Read more »
I FEEL SORRY FOR BEING MALAWIAN
AFTER 52 YEARS OF INDEPENCE
A COUNTRY BEAUTIFUL LIKE THIS ONE
FULL OF DOCTORS AND
PROFFESSORS
CAN’T AFFORD TO RUN AN INDEPENDENT
AIRLINE
BUILD AN AIRPORT FOR OUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS UP NORTH WHILE BOOSTING
TOURISM ON THE OTHER HAND AT NYIKA
NATIONAL PARK ;REALLY? ?
THE SAME DOCTORS ARE PACKING IN SACKS
AND PILLOW CASES MONIES MEANT FOR DEVELOPMENT
WHAT A CURSE IS THIS ??
AND WE GO AND KNOCK ON A DONORS DOOR REALLY ??
anenatu izi nde ndi azungu. nde a bwampini kunda mutharika mutiwuza cha????????
Gondwe says Malawians should ‘use the little they have to develop the country”. How can the villager who doesn’t know if he can feed his children next week ‘develop the country’? Look how many members of parliament are carrying spare flesh: they should lead by example.
We definitely need support for development projects but we must first of all repair our buckets as no one would want to keep pouring water into them if they are leaking.
Development partners are are aware that we consider development loans a means for stealing Monro through dubious procurement processes. Therefore, until we have independent Public Procurement Office, ACB, NAO and the like, no one will take us seriously.
You are very right Rift Valley.
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/hdr/2016-human-development-report.html
There is a need to look at the report.
Don’t be lazy and comment ignorantly.