By Virginia Kapembeza
Malawi’s new democratic government might regret the day it won the May elections now that the dreams of its more than nine million previously voiceless people become public.
The new government has to contend with a recession-hit economy, poverty and famine, low health and education standards, and high unemployment rates.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Malawi ranks very near the bottom in human development terms. Statistics reveal that in 1992, 2.1 million people had no access to health services and 4.8 million drank dirty water, while 8.4 million people (almost the entire population) live below the poverty line.
After almost 30 years of rule by Dr. Hastings “Kamuzu” Banda, Malawians have high aspirations, and President Bakili Muluzi might find himself in a difficult position if he fails to deliver vast needs to people who can no longer wait.
Some of his electorate are already questioning his economic policy, arguing that it is not different from that of his predecessor. Muluzi advocates liberalization, privatization, tariff cuts and devaluation.
The country has become increasingly dependent on foreign aid which accounts for 80 percent of the Muluzi’s United Democratic Front (UDF) fell five seats short of winning the majority.
Political observers predict that the relationship between the other major contenders in the election, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Alliance for Democracy (Aford), might turn into an opposition alliance and bring the MCP back into power although they gained only 52 and 36 seats respectively.
Malawian economists are concerned that celebrations over South Africa’s peaceful transition to democracy might overshadow Malawi’s urgent concerns. Again, Muluzi’s failure to win a clear majority might enable the opposition to frustrate his efforts in parliament.
The three presidential candidates scored major votes in their respective home areas, Muluzi in the south, Chihana in the north and Banda in central Malawi. In fact, most of the local and international post electoral attention has focused on the regional divisions.
But regionalism dogged the country even before Banda came to power in 1964. During his rule,
Political analysts believe Muluzi should form a government of national unity to avoid what afford leader, Chakufwa Chihana terms, “… polarization of the country on regional lines.” Harry Thomson, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, agrees. “We need a coalition to kill this regionalism in the country.
We want to make sure that we do not have the north considering itself as outside Malawi,” he says. Realizing that Malawi cannot solve its problems and inequalities alone, Muluzi has sought to become more open to international scrutiny than his predecessor. Muluzi underlined his determination to foster a new culture of accountability and democracy — hence his call to churchmen to continue criticizing the government if it appears undemocratic.
“I hope international donors will be sympathetic to our peoples’ high expectations especially in view of the recent withholding of aid,” says Muluzi. But international assistance now hinges on “good Governance”. In the past, Malawi lost investment opportunities because of Banda’s dubious unexplained detentions or, deportations — sometimes of business partners whose companies were taken over.
Muluzi intends to slash government expenditure, and has established a committee to identify and dispose of numerous state properties previously controlled by high-ranking officials — a move which saw 30 parastatals chaired by John Tembo, Kamuzu’s right-hand man, dissolved.
Analysts acknowledge the need to redress the economic wrongs of the nonagenarian dictator, whose age is in sharp contrast to the country’s life expectancy rate of 44.6 years.
Another challenge to the new government is education. Previously, education was designed along political lines. Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) taught children to idolize the government, while party leaders were appointed as education development planners. The Mirror, a Malawian private daily, says 61 percent of adults are illiterate and 46 percent of the population is under 15.
President Muluzi promised that when the new school term opens this October, primary school education will be free. But observers wonder how the government will cope with an influx of new pupils in a system already burdened by congested classes and a shortage of teachers. Malawi needs to train 44 teachers to attain a teacher: pupil ratio of 1:50 by the year 2000.
The minister of Education, Science and Technology, Sam Mpasu, says one classroom in Blantyre had one teacher for 207 pupils. He promises that more schools will be built to reduce congestion.
It is believed that hundreds of armed MYP youth are in Mozambique and many Malawians still harbour fears of a military uprising against the new government. “In away, Banda’s bad ways got so entrenched that they will live long after him,” commented one political analyst. (SARDC)
