There is a peculiar kind of madness gripping Malawi’s economic policy, one that would be almost comical if the consequences weren’t so devastating for ordinary people. While government ministers stand at podiums preaching the gospel of investment, export growth and industrialisation, their own tax authority is quietly strangling the very businesses capable of delivering it. […]
When opposition politicians seek inspiration for domestic policy, war zones are rarely the first destination on the itinerary. Yet United Democratic Front (UDF) leader Atupele Muluzi has returned from Kyiv offering precisely that: drawing an explicit parallel between Ukraine’s wartime endurance and the economic challenges facing Malawi. Writing on social media following his attendance at […]
The Economics Association of Malawi says tight budgets and a more flexible exchange rate are needed, but warns that the medicine carries costs for business Malawi’s economists are urging the government to rein in spending and overhaul its management of foreign exchange, as a severe dollar shortage collides with public debt of about K24tn, equivalent […]
The World Bank has praised the Malawi government for demonstrating stronger financial discipline, saying public finances are finally showing signs of improvement after years of double-digit deficits. In its latest Malawi Economic Monitor, the Bank describes the shift as an initial step toward fiscal consolidation following a prolonged period of overspending. According to the report, […]
Dalitso Kabambe, the former central bank governor who now leads the opposition UTM party, has put his finger on something Malawi’s official statistics tend to understate: a currency can look “stable” on paper while remaining acutely scarce in practice. His warning that commercial banks are now capping individual foreign-exchange disbursements at just $200 is a […]
Malawi’s banking chief has heaped praise on President Peter Mutharika, crediting him with steering the country’s economy firmly back on track, after a high-level meeting at Kamuzu Palace that saw both men hail a raft of encouraging economic indicators. Bankers Association of Malawi (BAM) President Philip Madinga delivered the glowing verdict after sitting down with […]
Accuses government of failing to deliver on promises of lower prices, cheaper fertiliser and more jobs UTM president Dalitso Kabambe has launched a scathing attack on the DPP government’s handling of the economy, accusing it of failing to deliver the transformation Malawians were promised when they voted the party back into power a year ago. […]
For decades, tobacco was Malawi’s economic lifeline—the “green gold” that financed imports, earned foreign exchange and sustained millions of rural households. Today, however, the industry’s latest figures paint the picture of a sector in unmistakable decline, raising serious questions about whether Malawi’s dependence on tobacco has finally reached its breaking point. Three months into the […]
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamvekha has pledged to publicly account for the savings generated through the government’s austerity measures, following mounting pressure from civil society organisations demanding proof that the cost-cutting programme has delivered tangible results. Mwanamvekha said the government will present a comprehensive report during the Mid-Year Budget Review in […]
When U.S. President Donald Trump slashed billions from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) withdrew its Extended Credit Facility (ECF) support to Malawi, many in the global aid community sounded the alarm. Panic spread across diplomatic circles and NGO corridors. Yet, here in Malawi, we must choose […]