Malawians must work ‘extra hard’ to revive economy – Goodall
Citizens have been urged to work together, move forward and never look back, if Malawi is to revive the ailing economy, new Economic Planning and Development Minister Goodall Gondwe has said.
Speaking on closely held broadcaster, Capital Radion on Tuesday, Gondwe said the success of the government Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) lies in the hands of the citizens.
“Malawi needs collective effort from all stakeholders for the successful implementation of the ERP, and citizens must work extra hard for this country,” said Gondwe, who served as finance minister during the first term of late president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Gondwe is a former director of the International Monetary Fund’s Africa department.
He is expected to steer an economic recovery programme launched by President Joyce Banda immediately after she assumed power in April in the southern African nation, one of the world’s poorest countries.
Banda has launched a raft of measures to tackle chronic poverty, while trying to lure back donors, who provide up to 40 percent of the country’s development budget
Around 39 percent of Malawians live on less than a dollar a day.
Gondwe was last week tapped to replace Atupele Muluzi, who resigned last month.
Malawi government has identified five strategic sectors – nergy, mining, tourism, agriculture, transport infrastructure development and Information Communication Technology (ICT) – that can quickly turn around the economy for export led growth and foreign exchange generation.
