Malawi ex-leader Bakili Muluzi decries poverty rate, youth unemployment
Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi has expressed worry over increasing rate of poverty and unemployment among youth 54 years after independence.
Muluzi made his comment to the flagship newspaper, the Daily Times, as the difference in lifestyles between the rich and poor is so glaring that one can fairly call it a tale of two parallel countries in one.
As the country is celebrating 54 years of independence, former president Bakili Muluzi has expressed worry over rising poverty and unemployment levels.
While he said said the struggle for independence which was championed by founding president Kamuzu Banda was worth it and the country has made significant gains in the last 54 years of independence, there there is little to cheer about in terms of economic gains.
“We have made a number of gains as an independent country. We are growing and continue to grow as a nation. We are in multiparty dispensation which is also growing,” Muluzi, who governed the country from 1994 to 2004, said as quoted by the paper.
Malawi inherited a strong economy from Britain in 1964 at independence although it was heavily dependent on agriculture as one of the world’s leading tobacco producers.
Muluzi, however, said it is unfortunate that poverty levels remain high in the country and that a significant percentage of Malawians are youths who are denied access to employment opportunities.
“My concern is that the level of poverty is high. There is [a] high unemployment rate, especially among the youth, and nobody is denying it. This is what government should look into so that everybody lives with dignity and affords basic needs in life,” Muluzi said.
Governance commentators said the country is facing economic inequality and that the problem with inequality is that it will eventually lead to societal discontent.
Henry Kachaje, an economic commentator, said what is disturbing about the high levels of poverty and general deprivation among the people is that they are not a result of lack of human and natural resources or civil wars, but rather of political and economic mismanagement.
He noted that Malawi government is still borrowing heavily, sinking deeper and deeper into debt without embarking on any economic restructuring.
But government spokesman Nicholous Dausi said the State is working hard to try to diversify its economy from agriculture to tourism and mining as well as improving trade.
Dausi said the Peter Mutharika administration has embarked on several initiatives backed by the National Budget to create about 17 000 jobs for the youth.
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Personally can’t take him serious. He is the genesis of our economic mess and am sure he is seating pretty with loads of cash in his house as is the trend with all looters
Nepositism is the cause of tall this which was started by Muluzi when he was President. He filled key positions with the Yaos. This was the genesis of unemployment and poverty because jobs were being field by unqualified people. This trend is spilling over with the current Administration. If you check now it is the Lhomwes who are driving expensive cars regardless of their low education while the highly educated people are driving cheap cars such as vits or corolla – what a shame!!
Bakili sanaiwale zimene Bingu anamuchita azabweza through others to finish DPP. Tibawonera kaye ngati mpira wamapazi. DPP siiwina come 2019. Ine ndiwa DPP koma ndinena zoona
Is Mr.MULUZI being sincerely?I mean he sold all companies to Indians between 1994 and 2004 and he’s worring of YOUTH being out of meaningful employ mentioned.what did he expect to happen aftr what he did?
Bakili sold all companies that created jobs for the youth and pocketed the money. He destroyed Press Corporation, David Whitehead, Grain and Milling, Cold Storage, MADECO, Chikangawa, MMM, Malawi Railways. These are the few that I can remember. These companies combined provided jobs to millions of Malawians and Muluzi and his gang destroyed by privatizing them to Amwenye and killing the companies eventually. He should just shut up and take a seat. When Muluzi came into power US Dollar to Malawi Kwacha was 1:7. That is how strong the economy of Malawi was during Kamuzu. Plus we had medicine in… Read more »
Bakili started this mess. Bakili brought down the standards of education. We never knew private schools during Kamuzu. There were no exam cheatings. All this started with Bakili. There are no new schools being built. No new schools in Kawale, area 18, area 49, area 47 etc. Pupils are travelling long distances from area 25 to Bwaila Public transport is long gone. Shire bus lines were replaced by Hiaces and now it’s Bongos and kabaza and big thief Pitala says the economy is well by looking at cars which civil servants and him are buying with stolen money. Kamuzu built… Read more »
I am not sure it makes sense blaming aChair at this juncture. Chair mpando anawusiya kale kale, kwabwela malemu Mutharika (8yrs), kwabwela Joyce Banda (2yrs) kenaka mfiti tili nayoyi Peter Mutharika akukwanitsa zaka 4yrs. Anybody in their right frame of mind will not want to blame Muluzi 14 years later. Omwewa tinavotela pakati anatani kukonza mavuto onsewa? Mpila you mark the man with the ball – Peter Mutharika. Pano zoti Chair chani chani zosagwila. But what l know Chair wayambapo akatelo. Its not a coincidence kuti Saulos speaks of youth regeneration and Chair adds his voice to that. DPP ngati… Read more »
Hospital Kamuzu built are functioning sub-optimally now (×-ray machines are grounded, laboratory lack basic supplies, (patients being referred to Central Hospitals for even blood transfusion);
Sub-standard school blocks collapsing killing our children, ana writing exams pa miyendo no desks, no text books/ teaching maternals; government sectors kulandira 100,000 as ORT pa mwezi.
Yet thieves angogawana ndalama ndi a mwenye, ndi ma business a FAKE.
SHAME on thieves!!!
chitsilu chimenechi mchomwe chinaoononga dziko
Zamake dzana izo tikambe zalelo!
Read in between Muluzi’s statement munthu wamkulu walankhula mokuluwika. He speaks to youth regeneration. Laments the unemployment of youth and lack of opportunities for the youth in Malawi. In the overall, he complains about poverty among the youths. Chilima is not misplaced in his conviction that the youths should fight for their political and economic space. He is not misplaced either that it is time the youths took a leading political role to chart their destiny. His recent comments that a political alliance with Atupele could be the real deal is realpolitik. Chilima is playing big politics. Muluzi coming out… Read more »
Unfortunately Chilima doesnt sound presidential not even willng but being pushed.
Chakwera hope Malawi basi.
Authorities are stealing too much in form of contracts, kickbacks, corruption and allowance claims without checks. Every president goes with billions of money without being arrested. Please can we start to prosecute and arresting them.