MALAWI PRESS REVIEW May 2004
From Centre For Social Concern (see our house)

PREVIEW

During the month of May, reports on politics centered on the May general elections and the general mood in the aftermath of the elections. Whether or not the elections were free and fair remains a controversial issue. However, most people would agree that the elections were characterized by several irregularities and anomalies.

President Bingu wa Mutharika inaugural speech embracing the spirit of reconciliation, promising to deal with corruption and emphasizing strategies that would encourage economic growth impressed the majority of the population as it promised a departure form 'mere politics' to a more favorable form of governance that focuses on the economic needs of the country.

Reports on the economy expressed concern over government's chronic over-expenditure and lack of political will to enforce good economic governance measures. There is need for civil society groups as well as civil servants to take a strong stance in guiding politicians on the need for good governance transparency if the country is to develop.

Lack of market information has been identified as one of the setbacks to achieving food security and maximizing profits on farm produce. Issues of food security, education and health took center stage in the party manifestos for the May elections, as politicians pledged to improve these areas once elected into power.

Civil society groups and churches played a major role in educating the masses on how to vote in the general elections as well as ensure the smooth running of events during the elections. Once again, the role of the church in politics was questioned as some politicians accused the church of dividing the country on religious lines.

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POLITICS

The month of May saw politicians in the country embroiled in political campaigns that were characterized by political mudslinging as politicians employed various techniques to discredit each other. A case in point are the damning revelations on the abuse of funds and office by the newly elected President Bingu wa Mutharika while working as Secretary general at common Market for Southern and East Africa, COMESA. Nevertheless, it is difficult to prove his liability or innocence as far as these allegations are concerned. Perhaps what comes out clear is the fact that these allegations did not stop a majority of voters from voting for Mutharika.

There is no doubt that contrary to the warning from the Ant-Corruption Bureau, the main campaign strategy involved politicians dishing out money and other material goods such as bicycles in order to attract the electorate to vote for them. Nevertheless, although it is not automatic that people would indeed vote for somebody who gave them something, this habit is detrimental to democracy as it does not encourage a level playing field and promotes the 'dependency syndrome'. Evidence suggests that this campaign strategy can also promote violence and disorder in society, a case in point is the incident in Lilongwe where pupils and party supporters hacked one another over the K20,000 the former President gave to two students to share with others during his whistle-stop tour in the area. To distribute money in such a manner smacks of irresponsibility on the part of the former President. It is also unfair and illogical to only give a large amount of 'taxpayers' money to a small section of the population when the majority of the population is poor.

It is to be noted that the African Union team which was in the country to observe the May 2004 Elections was shocked at the way politicians openly gave handouts at political rallies, saying in other countries this would be considered as vote buying and corruption. One of the main criticisms leveled at the ruling United Democratic Front during the campaign period was that the government was abusing public resources for campaign purposes. Once again this reveals a lack of separation between state and party funds. This situation is detrimental to the economic well-being of the country. It also does not create a level playing field with opposition parties who have no access to state coffers.

During the month of May, reports on politics mainly concentrated on the election process as well as the aftermath of the general elections. Most people would agree that the May 2004 General elections have left an indelible mark on the country's political history, and will provide many lessons to learn from in the future.

Whether or not the elections were free and fair remains a controversial issue however, according to election observers and other stakeholders the May elections were characterized by several irregularities and anomalies. A proper assessment of the May elections should embrace the whole electoral process including voter registration, the campaigning period, the actual polling and vote counting as well as the conduct of the Malawi Electoral Commission.

The voter registration process was characterized by shortage of materials, which frustrated participants and affected the confidence of voters. During the campaign period, the state media appeared to be biased towards the ruling party. Although the actual voting was fairly peaceful, there were some problems relating to the voters roll, delays in transportation of results, and manipulation in the documentation of figures. The conduct of the Malawi Electoral Commission also left a lot to be desired.

The choice of Presidential and Parliamentary aspirants in the May elections proved to be varied. The May elections saw the emergence of a group of independent candidates, which represented a new phenomenon in Malawian politics. For the first time in Malawian History there was an independent Presidential candidate, Justin Malewezi. Some Critics have argued that this is a positive development in that an independent candidate would likely appoint cabinet ministers on merit because he would have no party loyalists to appease. Nevertheless, the voting pattern revealed that Malawi's democracy is still not mature enough to accommodate an independent President. The voting pattern also confirmed that Malawians still perceive politics on party and regional lines.

There is no doubt that the outcome of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections are likely to have far-reaching results. Political analysts have predicted that the elected President will find it difficult to govern because the National Assembly would be comprised of a strong opposition, which could encourage politics of compromise and horse-trading.

The loss of Parliamentary seats by at least 30 influential former UDF ministers and MPs has been a blow in the face for the ruling UDF government, as well as a source of power struggle within the party. A small section of the Party known as the fast-track group, threatened former executive members who lost their parliamentary seats to resign. All the more, critics have questioned the future of the UDF/AFORD/NCD Alliance; accusing the two parties of being mere passengers who failed to assist the ruling UDF garner sufficient Parliamentary seats.

Although most people have bemoaned the irregularities in the electoral process and sympathize with opposition parties, many people have strongly argued that the opposition parties are mainly to blame for failing to join together and fight the UDF as a common front. Indeed, a united opposition front would have undoubtedly sailed through in the May elections. The outcome of the May elections should serve as a lesson for the future.

ECONOMY

The government has for some time been criticized for chronic over-expenditure and lack of political will to enforce good governance procedures. It is with this background that a group of accountants have warned the next government to watch out against drafting a budget it cannot implement or with questionable sources of funding. Experience has now shown that it is high time the government stopped relying on donor funding which can be unpredictable and only reinforces the dependency syndrome in the long run. All the more, donor pledges come with strings attached such as macroeconomic stability and governance related pledges, which may not suit the country's socio-economic needs. Failure by government to fulfill conditions attached to donor aid forces donors to stop funding which in turn forces the government to resort to borrowing on the local market. Unfortunately, heavy borrowing on the local market has the negative effect of crowding out the growth of private companies as interest rates shoot up.

It is with this background that the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry has resorted to drawing an alternative national budget which they believe will help achieve the much needed six percent GDP growth per year. This is a positive initiative for the country as it becomes obvious that the problems facing Malawi require innovative contributions from all sections of our society. Lack of political will on the part of the government to stick to the budget has been identified as one of the major weaknesses of the government. It is therefore imperative for civil society groups to closely monitor government expenditure in order to provide checks and balances on overall public expenditure.

There is also need for those civil servants in influential positions to take a strong stance in guiding politicians on good governance. Indeed, civil servants have for a long time stood and watched politicians plunder the economy. Being the main implementers of government policies, civil servants ought to be competent and motivated enough to guide politicians on economic and social issues. There is therefore need to empower and motivate civil servants in order to improve their productivity.

There is no doubt that good public expenditure is an integral part of good governance and hence a prerequisite for poverty reduction. Government has for some time failed to stick to the budget and to only spend its meager resources on protected pro-poor expenditures. According to a review of the 2003/2004 Budget Performance, the Government has in the past nine months spent K1 billion of the money meant for pro-poor activities on travel. It has also been established that the salaries and benefits for people who implement pro-poor programs are much higher than the money, which goes to the actual activities. Therefore, one should not wonder why most pro-poor programmes never succeed or stop haphazardly. Another case in point is the revelation that the government was diverting funds from the National Road Authority (NRA) to finane other activities outside the programme.

Lack of proper demarcation by government between state and personal funds is a major weakness affecting the economy. A case in point is the allegation that five million kwacha was drawn from the National Aids Commission to fund the Bakili Muluzi Aids Foundation. Media reports also revealed that the Bakili Muluzi Institute was using civil servants to run the institution. The institution is also housed in government offices.

The current debt situation is another cause for concern that ought to be taken seriously if the country is to achieve economic growth. It was revealed that the new government would take over a K34 billion domestic debt. There is no doubt that without financial prudence and political will, the debt situation as well as the country's economic situation would remain bleak.

Reports on the economy examined how the value of the Kwacha has affected peoples' ability to import and export goods. The depreciation in the value of the Kwacha since 1994 has seen a die down of the trend where people went to South Africa or Zimbabwe to purchase goods for sale in Malawi. On one hand the devaluation of the Kwacha has meant that people have found imports expensive. Furthermore, the government stands to lose in its revenue collection through import duty and other taxes. However, a weak local currency is not altogether a bad thing as it enables the country to export more in that it makes exports competitive.

FOOD SECURITY

The revelation by food experts that the maize yield will be lower this year than last year demands considerable effort by government and non-governmental organizations to put into place mechanisms that would ensure that there is enough food available in order to avert another hunger crisis. It is with this background that the European Union has pledged to secure more than K6 billion from its member states to fight food and nutrition insecurity among rural Malawians.

Food security remains one of the major challenges facing the country. This was evident in various election manifestos, which attempted to map out how the elected government would tackle food security problems facing the country. Almost all of the parties pledged to enact policies that would ensure that farm inputs are affordable thereby increasing productivity. Indeed the price of farm inputs in the country has been beyond the reach of most smallholder farmers, which makes it impossible for them to harvest enough crops. To this end, party manifestos suggest subsidizing farm inputs such as fertilizers in the belief that it is more efficient to subsidize production rather than consumption. The move to commercialize Admarc is another bone of contention with some parties arguing that commercialization would improve Admarc while other opposition parties saw it as the gravest mistake committed under the UDF government.

Lack of market information has been identified as one of the setbacks to achieving food security as well as maximum profit on farm products. Fundamental marketing decisions such as which products to grow, the ability to negotiate a fair price, and finding the right markets should be prioritized if people are to benefit from farming. One way to gaining these marketing skills and fair prices is through farmer's involvement in smallholder associations. Likewise, Agriculture extension personnel have played a major role in helping farmers to produce adequate crops. However, Agricultural extension workers have been criticized for failing to empower farmers with marketing skills. Another weakness in the country has been that people grow cash crops without assessing the market demand for that crop. Consequently, one would find that the market is saturated with one type of product. It is hoped that the One Village one Product programme will ensure that product choice is market driven.

During the month of May, media reports revealed some desperate measures that are being taken by some members of society to find their daily meal. It was revealed that in the face of poverty, unemployment and unaffordable prices of basic commodities, some people in Lilongwe have resorted to feeding their families from the garbage site at Six Miles dumping site in Lilongwe. The situation is likely to get worse in view of the forecasted food shortage this year. According to the Commissioner for Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Rehabilitation, the Government is likely to declare its imminent food shortage in August, a shortage that is expected to affect about 3 million people. Agricultural experts have blamed government for over-dependence on rain-fed Agriculture and lack of political will to fight hunger.

CIVIL SOCIETY AND CHURCHES

Civil Society organizations in the country have called on the new government to probe the Bakili Muluzi administration on corruption cases, and the general administration of donor funds and taxpayers money in the past 10 years. President Muluzi's government was highly criticized for high expenditure as well as extravagant dishing out of money during public rallies. The origin of this money has not been fully established although speculation suggests that it could well be tax-payers money. People have also questioned President Muluzi's accumulation of a considerable amount of wealth while in office. The fact that the previous regime did not declare their assets at the very beginning raises suspicion as to how some government officials managed to accumulate a lot of wealth within a short period of time.

The church and civil society groups were encouraged by President Bingu Wa Mutharika's inaugural speech which promised to deal with corruption and mismanagement of funds and place emphasis on strategies that would encourage economic growth. This was a very encouraging speech as it brought to many a sense of hope to finding solutions to some of the current economic and social problems facing the country. The inaugural speech also promises a departure from mere politics to a new form of governance that focuses on the economic needs of the country.

Civil society groups and organizations have also advised the newly elected President not to be directed by former President Bakili Muluzi if he wants people to trust and respect him. However, in practice this may prove to be difficult due to the fact that the former President is also the ruling UDF party chairman, a position that puts him in the limelight of party activities. Perhaps this is where civil society groups ought to be vigilant in advocacy to ensure that the national media do not focus too much on prominent party personalities.

There is no doubt that the church played a major role in guiding the flock to critically assess the political aspirants before voting. Once again, the role of the church in politics was questioned as some politicians accused the church of dividing the country on religious lines. However the church upheld its argument that guiding the flock is in line with the teachings of the church. Perhaps what may have gone wrong is that instead of simply offering guidance, some religious leaders were telling people to vote for particular individuals. The election period saw the emergence of a group of priests allegedly sponsored by the United Democratic Front to confuse their flock in the run up to the elections. The concerned priests argued that people were being denied the right to vote freely and without being intimidated or harassed.

It is also important to note that the events leading to the May elections revealed strained relations between Christians and Moslems as the two groups tended to choose political sides on religious lines. Civil Liberties Committee petitioned Radio Islam to desist from promoting hate speech that could divide and incite religious intolerance and violence in the country.

Likewise civil society organizations played a major role in educating the masses on how to vote in the elections as well as ensure the smooth running of events leading to the general elections. For instance, the Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) advised voters to base their decision on socio-economic issues outlined in the 'Civil Society manifesto' when deciding on whom to vote for in the general elections. There is need for the electorate to move beyond choosing people based on personalities and regional or religious lines. Perhaps this is where the civil society should place much emphasis when educating the masses.

Civil society groups also expressed concern over police shooting that left a few people dead after the Malawi Electoral Commission declared Bingu Wa Mutharika president. Despite Police reform programmes, the conduct of the police in the country still leaves a lot to be desired. Why the police had to use live ammunition instead of teargas, or rubber bullets is one of the questions in most people's minds. Civil Society groups have equally condemned the attack of Civil Liberties Committee (Cilic) executive Director Emmie Chanika by some UDF stalwarts in full view of police at Chichiri Conference Hall, where MEC announced presidential and parliamentary results.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

People with disabilities in the country have expressed concern at government's failure to address the problems that they face in terms of special needs education and their social and economic needs. It is to be noted that pledges to meet the needs of people with disabilities were a common feature of the election campaign, however it remains to be seen whether these pledges will be translated into reality.

There is no doubt that the HIV/AIDS pandemic remains one of the greatest challenges facing our society. The problem is further exacerbated by the problem of poverty in that due to lack of finances, it is difficult to put into place support systems and services to take care of the people infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS virus. During the month of May, the national press revealed that in Salima district, a 30 year old woman has the responsibility of looking after 16 children of whom over three quarters are orphans. The rise in the number of orphans due to HIV/AIDS demands concerted effort to find a solution to the problem. Reports have expressed concern at the decision by Shoprite to cut supplies of slightly damaged foodstuffs to registered charitable organizations such as orphanages following a decision by the Malawi Revenue Authority that surtax be paid on the items. Consequently, beneficiary charities are now being forced to buy some of the foodstuffs that they were getting for free.

Efforts to curb the scourge have sometimes failed to achieve desired results because they have questioned the emotional as well as the moral well being of our society. Some sections of society for instance the church have distanced themselves from other preventive measures such as the use of condoms. It is perhaps high time that we started examining the reasons why the virus continues to spread despite massive campaigns to encourage behavior change. Although most people would agree that abstinence is the best way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, failure to abstain makes it necessary for policy makers to encourage other preventive methods such as the use of condoms for those who are not able to abstain. It is from the realization that some people fail to abstain that the Police Service has started building houses at permanent roadblocks to enable police officers to live with their families in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic.
Media reports also revealed that fear of discrimination is responsible for early deaths due to HIV/AIDS in that where there is suspicion that somebody may be infected, relatives and friends find it difficult to suggest that one should go for a test in the belief that doing so would be like condemning the individual. Similarly, on a personal level people continue to shun voluntary testing for fear of discrimination once tested positive. Consequently, this makes it difficult for people to seek proper care, support services or proper treatment.
There is no doubt that tradition plays a major role in peoples lives. Tradition is mainly valued for it gives people a sense of legitimacy and provides a guide to peoples' daily lives. It suffices to say that the ability of tradition to stand the test of time has earned it a place in our modern times. However, recent events revealed that tradition and religion do not always go hand in hand. The Church of Central African Presibetarian (CCAP) clergy were shocked to learn from a prominent chief, Inkosi ya Makosi Mbelwa that the Ngoni People ought to be spared sacramental excommunication despite drinking and polygamy for the simple reason that it part of the Ngoni culture.
Reports in the media also expressed concern over the rampant illegal buying and selling of gemstones, precious stones and the illegal drug 'Chamba' in the country. There is need for government to take these allegations seriously because the country cannot afford to lose the much-needed income through such illegal transactions. Although it remains a controversial issue, some people have suggested legalizing the sale of the illegal drug, Chamba, mainly known as 'Malawian gold' due to its demand among foreigners.

EDUCATION

There is no doubt that the need to promote good standards of education in the country cannot be overemphasized, and remains one of the basic strategies in the fight against poverty as well as the key to social and economic growth. Indeed, promises of free Primary education contributed a great deal to UDF's victory in the 1994 election and the past five years saw an emphasis on Primary education as a foundation for the whole education process. Consequently, education was also featured in the manifestos of all parties in the May 2004 elections. What is perhaps most interesting is that almost all contesting parties saw the Free Primary education as a good initiative that ought to be maintained through various strategies such as: ensuring availability of adequate teaching and learning materials, well trained teachers. The Mgwrizano coalition further suggested increasing pupil's incentives to reduce the dropout and absenteeism rates, as well as increase retention among girls and disadvantaged pupils. Evidence has shown that Community mobilization initiatives pioneered by Non-governmental Organizations such as the Creative Center for Community Mobilization (Creccom) are a success in improving education.

Reports on education expressed concern over the delay by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to authorize the Malawi National Examination Board (Maneb) to start administering secondary examinations in computer studies despite several schools in the country having already started teaching the subject. The delays are due to the fact that the Ministry lacks equipment for teaching the subject as well as trained teachers. However, this delay is demotivating for students who would value a formal qualification to come out of their computer studies. The introduction of computer studies in secondary schools is a positive initiative for the simple reason that advanced technology is a prerequisite for economic growth and a necessary condition for progressive participation in the global village.

Reports on education also expressed concern at the failure of the education system in the country to produce successful entrepreneurs because of its emphasis on white-collar jobs. This is very unfortunate in light of the fact that our job market is not developed enough to accommodate most graduates into white-collar employment. However, some have argued that the current economic climate is not conducive to young entrepreneurs because of lack of capital and loan facilities. It is hoped that President Mutharika's promise that the government would allocate a K500 million fund for the youth would materialize

HEALTH

Reports in the month of May expressed concern that currently the country has no rabies vaccine. This is a sad development because once bitten by a rabid dog one can die very fast when the vaccine is not available. It is hoped that health officials will take this problem seriously in order to make the vaccine available in the country.

Almost all the party election manifestos in the country expressed concern on the state of the country's health delivery systems, it is characterized by poor infrastructure, shortage of drugs, shortage of doctors and nurses, a massive brain drain of health personnel in search of greener pasture as well as a rise in maternal deaths. Reports in the media reveal that for the country's population of over 11 million people, there are only 60 ambulances, 187 doctors and 500 nurses. The problems facing nurses in the country were clearly outlined during the International Nurses day in the country, which falls on the 12th of May. Some of the main problems facing nurses are low pay and over-working due to staff shortage.

It is now common knowledge that health problems in the country are interlinked with poverty. On one hand, poverty makes people susceptible to ill health, while on the other hand, the poor health infrastructure and lack of resources emanate from poverty. Therefore efforts to redress the health problems in the country will only bear fruit if they go hand in hand with poverty reduction initiatives.

Election manifestos of various parties also expressed concern over the impact of HIV/AIDS on the health sector in the country. There is no doubt that failure to put the pandemic to rest would continue to have a devastating effect on the health sector by worsening some of the problems that the sector is already facing, for instance, shortage of personnel and drugs, lack of infrastructure as well as financial resources. The introduction of the K1.1 billion free Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARVs) is a positive move in the right direction in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in that it will enable a considerable number of patients to live longer, as well as encourage more people to go for Voluntary Testing. However, various stakeholders have expressed concern that there is need for government to conduct rigorous awareness programmes in order to sensitise people about the free drugs. Some of the challenges facing the programme are treatment failure and disease progression due to improper use of drugs as well as the proliferation of the drugs on the black market.

ENVIRONMENT

During the month of May, reports on the environment continued to look at alternative sources of energy to wood that would offer a solution to the problem of deforestation. In an effort to discourage deforestation and ease the problems caused by persistent blackouts, British Oxygen Company (BOC) gases are promoting the use of hand gas stoves and lamps as an alternative source of energy. The advantage of gas fuel is that it is environmentally friendly, convenient to use, and according to the suppliers, inexpensive. However the problem lies in the fact that although gas may prove to be cheaper compared to electricity, the cost of gas is beyond the reach of the majority of the population and in particular most people in the rural areas. The poverty situation in the country makes it necessary to invest more in fuel energy alternatives that are readily available and cheaper than wood.

Reports on the environment focused on the need to develop and maintain the country's built environment. This refers to things like good roads, footpaths and a pleasant and well-built town center. Well-designed roads and buildings entail a lasting legacy and offer a sense of pride to the nation. It is therefore vital for the country to take pride in excellent designs and put a stop to the construction of unauthorized buildings.

GENDER

During the month of May, reports on gender focused on the campaign by government, gender activists and rights groups to encourage people to vote for women in the Parliamentary elections in an attempt to adhere to the 30% minimum representation of women in decision-making positions.

However, although the May 2004 election witnessed an increase in the number of women aspiring to become MPs, the outcome was far from the desired target. The May 20 Elections managed to increase the number of women from 17 to 28, representing an increase of 14.7 percent. However, civil society groups must be commended for their determination and support aimed at ensuring fair representation in decision- making positions. There is no doubt that their efforts are likely to yield better results in the future.

It is also sufficient to say that the efforts to ensure that more women make it to parliament met with considerable resistance from almost all sections of society, which begs the question whether the 30 percent minimum target is attainable or mere wishful thinking considering the influence of inherent cultural beliefs regarding the role of women in our society. One wonders why it was not possible for women to at least 'vote for their fellow women' in the Parliamentary race, knowing very well that women are better placed to advance the cause of women in policy formation and implementation. It is to be noted there were incidents where some women were at the forefront campaigning against other women during the parliamentary race.

There is no doubt that women aspirants in the 2004 elections lacked adequate support from influential people within the society. It is high time that influential institutions such as the church took a leading role in promoting the cause of women. It is indeed rather unfortunate to note that in some cases, the outgoing President Dr Bakili Muluzi has been seen to be at the forefront frustrating some UDF women aspirants who were forced to stand as independent candidates. A case in point is in Phalombe North where he falsely declared that Ann Kachikho had bowed down to a male candidate whom the President favors.

Women aspirants faced problems such as harassment and in worst cases dismissal from work, lack of resources and little control over available resources. This was a major setback considering that during the election campaign, politicians tend to woo the electorate with monetary goods. Despite civil society appeal to political parties to accommodate women, most political parties made a deliberate move to deny women a chance during the Primary elections thereby forcing most of them to run as independents.

The NGO Gender Network, which provided training, material and financial support to women parliamentary candidates in the May elections, has warned MPs who won as independents against being enticed to join political parties, saying that doing so would be going against their supporters and frustrating the efforts of the network. However, contrary to this warning reports in the media have revealed that some women MPs who won as independent candidates have already rejoined the ruling United Democratic Front. Perhaps this only serves to prove that Malawians continue to perceive politics on party and regional lines, and belonging to a particular party offers a sense of 'belonging' and 'protection' to most politicians and perhaps more so to women politicians.

Jere Tobias temporary editor of the Review .
assisted by Sr. Catherine Dwyer, MMM

Rose Kajawa at
CFSC@malawi.net

Centre For Social Concern
P.O. Box 40049, Kanengo, Lilongwe
Malawi
Tel (265) 1 716 138 and (265) 9 957 669