The success behind Malawi’s economic growth
Malawi's economy which is based mainly on agriculture has changed drastically in the past 5 years. It has grown by more than 7% which has given it the highest growth since the 60s. Its growth has been thrice the normal population growth in Malawi per annum. This has all happened under the current President, Mr Bingu wa Mutharika who chose to use different economic growth strategies in taking Malawi out of poverty into a self-sufficient nation.
Focusing on empowering small holder farming, and creating social and political stability, Malawi has since become the second safest African country to invest in after Botswana even though there had been resistance from the international world to wa Mutharika's way of reforming the country.
Before wa Mutharika, the economy had fallen to minus 5% under Muluzi and also about a 17% decline under Banda and many other presidents before him.
"Knowing and understanding who we are, what we want and how to get it is how we managed to turn Malawi around," explained wa Mutharika at a press conference after the night of the Drivers of Change Awards hosted by Southern Africa Trust and Mail & Guardian on the 29th of October, where he won the Driver of Change Award in the Government sector, the highest of its form.
Using different strategies than what was and is considered the norm by other African leaders and donor organizations, wa Mutharika and his country have focused on four priorities in creating a safe Malawian environment. The four are: protecting the Malawian citizen, their place of residence, their business and foreign and local investors' interests.
The realistic evaluation of the resources available to the nation is what Malawi based its economic growth strategy on. The strategies focus on reducing government spend but rather the maximization of already available resources within guidelines and policies that attract the private sector. The support of the Malawian government by donor organizations through policy reforms and providing resources during the transitional period has helped in creating a conducive environment for economic growth.
Through improved agricultural activities and proper infrastructure even in the remote rural areas has reduced rural to city migration and has saved the urban areas from crumbling under too much people and less resources - one of the many contributors to increased crime and violence in many Sub Saharan countries.
Wa Mutharika has worked hard at implementing sound macro economical and agricultural policies for the economy to grow.
The question to ask though is, how sustainable and equitable is an economy that grows so fast?
Avoid ANC blue light brigade over the festive season
“Among other things, the vision, principles and values of the
ANC teach the cadres of this movement life-long lessons that inform us
that, wherever we are and whatever we do, we should ensure that our
actions contribute to the attainment of a free and just society, the
upliftment of all our people and the development of a South Africa that
belongs to all who live in it.
“Indeed, the work we have done in pursuit of the vision and
principles of our liberation movement has at all times been based on
the age-old values of Ubuntu, of selflessness, sacrifice and service in
a manner that ensures that the interests of the people take precedence
over our desires as individuals.” (Former president Thabo Mbeki 21/9/08 from his resignation speech)
In the midst of the festive season, with the number of traffic
fatalities climbing by the hour and with the usual admonitions from the
authorities about driving safely, is it not an apposite time to look at
the behaviour of the authorities themselves — particularly in the
context of service delivery and ubuntu — as articulated by former
president Thabo Mbeki in his farewell speech in September?
In April 2007, a motorist uses his cellphone in KwaZulu-Natal to
film African National Congress (ANC) KZN Premier Sbu Ndebele’s blue
light brigade endangering other road users by travelling at 160kph in
heavy traffic on the N3 and alerts local newspaper, the Natal Witness.
KZN transport MEC, Bheki Cele, justifies the speeding on the grounds
that Ndebele was late for a function. He demands that the newspaper
release the name of the whistle blower in order that he, Cele, can take
action against him. As a result of this he releases the following
statement: “He (the whistle blower) is a self-made, arrogant,
non-accountable individual who purports to be a good citizen and I will
dare to argue that he is also a racist.” Questioning the motives of one
of South Africa’s oldest newspapers, he accused it of publishing the
story at the behest of its “political masters”.
Clearly the KZN MEC has forgotten that he, of all people, should
know that crime in South Africa is out of control and the very least
the public expect from people in authority is that they set the
example. What they do not accept, or tolerate, is that the person
charged with ensuring that law and order is maintained show total
disregard for it’s implementation and furnish grounds of justification,
which have no basis in law. If he was late for a function where does
that leave him in terms of breaking the law? As for “racism” and “lack
of accountability”, Cele seems to be the master of both.
Notwithstanding, a few months later the clearly racist Cele, when
confronted with another wholly unacceptable outrage from the blue light
brigade, decides to trot out the inappropriate “racism” defence again.
This unfortunately is not a defence in law. On this occasion KZN
resident Mike Allison was killed when a car in an ANC blue light convoy
smashed into his bakkie at high speed.
The following is taken from a transcript of the interview Carte Blanche conducted with his bereaved family in their July broadcast on blue light brigade abuses:
“Tina Allison: ‘I noticed the paramedics working on the body and I
just recognised the man that was being attended to was my husband.’
“Mike Allison had been involved in a collision with local Arts and
Culture MEC Weziwe Thusi’s police convoy. The accident happened at such
a high speed, his son Mark says his father didn’t stand a chance.
“Mark Allison (Tina’s son): ‘They say the spine went through the brain from the impact — obviously from being hit from behind.’
“Nine months later, the family is still battling to come to terms with their loss.”
The programme details numerous occasions when motorists were
assaulted, driven off the road and even shot at by African National
Congress Blue Light Brigade thugs.
It quotes Nelson Mandela as decrying Robert Mugabe’s blue light
convoy abuses and saying this behaviour is not acceptable in South
Africa.
When Cele was interviewed by Carte Blanche, he could not
wait to contemptuously trash the Allison’s grief and play the race card
again. Leering brutishly at the camera and speaking with enormous
relish and self-satisfaction he said: “All of a sudden there is a
hullabaloo about blue lights. I suggest it is because some people are
aware that in the blue light car today, there is a darkie inside there.”
Where does Cele’s conduct place when regard is had to the calls of
both Madiba and Mbeki for ubuntu, non racialism and respect for the
dead?
Even the normally scrupulously neutral and diplomatic Derek Watts,
in his sign-off, remarks at the end of the programme feels constrained
to condemn the arrogance displayed on the programme – sentiments that
are universal.
Unfortunately the MEC’s unlawful behavior will transmit through the
ranks as was clearly demonstrated when Constable Hlanganani Nxumalo,
another member of the ANC’s notorious KZN Blue Light Brigade, was
charged with eight counts of attempted murder and one of malicious
damage to property after he purportedly shot out the tyre of a motorist
on the N3 near Camperdown during November.
The driver of the car lost control, veered into oncoming traffic and
collided head-on with another vehicle. Eight of the twelve people in
the two cars were injured, four of them seriously. There was, as usual,
no emergency — just an ANC member who was late for an appointment. In
refusing Constable Nxuma bail, magistrate Thys Taljaard said: “There’s
a history of VIP members terrorising road users and having no regard
for the law. Can one really blame the press for referring to them as
the blue light gang of KZN?”
Clearly the actions of the MEC are translating themselves into
unacceptable conduct on the ground and it begs the question why the ANC
has not censured Cele for his earlier conduct and come out strongly in
respect of this incident in particular. Party discipline needs to be
maintained and the total disregard by the KZN transport MEC for law and
order at this time in the country’s history, when fighting crime is
high on many voters’ priority lists, is a matter for grave concern.
The following extract is from Tony Leon’s recently published autobiography, On the Contrary ( Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2008):
“Shortly after I first came to parliament in 1990 I encountered
President FW de Klerk leaving the Union Buildings in Pretoria as I was
entering them. South Africa was involved in a low-intensity but deadly
civil war and De Klerk was a marked man from Right and Left. Yet his
entourage comprised two vehicles: his own Mercedes with a driver and
bodyguard followed by a police chase car. That was it.
“Any encounter with Mbeki was different. I noted in 2005, ‘When
I saw President Mbeki’s entourage, I managed to count 12 vehicles,
including an ambulance, before I lost track altogether.”
“As Mbeki himself said: “Indeed the work we have done in pursuit of
the vision and principles of our liberation movement has at all times
been based on the age-old values of Ubuntu, of selflessness, sacrifice
and service in a manner that ensures that the interests of the people
take precedence over our desires as individuals.”
If that is the case then the ANC had best clamp down hard on those
persons who utilise state transport in the course and scope of their
duties and might I suggest that convoys be limited to the president and
deputy president with the rest travelling alone. The money that is
saved to be invested in the poorer communities of this country.
Source: http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/traps/2008/12/24/avoid-anc-blue-light-brigade-over-the-festive-season/
Expand your Mind
Which way is she turning?
According to this article,
if you see her spinning clockwise you are predominantly "Right-Brained"
(use more of the right side of your brain). If you see her spinning
counter-clockwise you are are predominantly "Left-Brained".
Apparently,
most people see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to
focus and change the direction; see if you can do it. (Most of our
family see it turning clockwise ... maybe we're a bit odd).
See how easily & quickly you can make her change direction.
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based f
orms strategies
practical
safe
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking
The good news for the new year is as follows
January: Tony Blair is arrested at Heathrow Airport as he returns from yet another foreign speaking engagement (receipts since leaving office: £12m). He is flown to The Hague to stand trial for war
crimes for his part in the illegal, unprovoked attack on a defenceless country, Iraq, justified by proven lies, and for the subsequent physical, social and cultural destruction of that country, causing the
death of up to a million people. According to the Nuremberg Tribunal,this is the "paramount war crime". The prosecution tells Blair's defence team it will not accept a plea of "sincerely believing". Cherie Blair, a close collaborator who has compared her husband with Winston Churchill, is cautioned.
February: Following the inauguration of Barack Obama as president of the United States, his predecessor, George W. Bush, is arrested leaving the Church of the Holy Crusader in his home
town of Crawford, Texas. He is flown to The Hague in War Criminal One. (See above for prosecution details.) Laura Bush, after a plea bargain, agrees to give evidence against the former president, "for God's sake".
March: Former vice-president Dick Cheney shoots himself in the foot hunting squirrels following a prayer breakfast in Hope, Florida.
April: Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest and assumes her rightful place as the democratic head of the government of Burma.
May: All American and British troops leave Iraq, including the "300-400" British troops who are to stay behind to "train Iraqis" and do the kind of special forces dirty work almost never reported by embedded journalists.
June: All Nato troops leave Afghanistan.
July: The British government calls a halt to selling arms and military equipment to ten out of 14 conflict-hit countries in Africa. The chairman of the arms company BAE Systems is arrested by the Serious Fraud Office.
August: The British Department for International Development ends its support for privatisation as a condition of aid to the poorest countries.
September: Sir Bob Geldof and Bono visit Tony Blair in prison, suggesting a worldwide Crime Aid gig to raise money for their hero's defence.
December: Tony Blair is sentenced to life imprisonment and beatified by the Pope. If you think none of this will happen, you are probably right. But beware 2010 . . .
This article was originally published on 18 December 2008 in the issue Christmas and New Year special
About the writer
John Pilger, renowned investigative journalist and documentary film-maker,is one of only two to have twice won British journalism's top award; his documentaries have won academy awards in both the UK and the US. In a New Statesman survey of the 50 heroes of our time, Pilger came fourth behind Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela. "John Pilger," wrote HaroldPinter, "unearths, with steely attention facts, the filthy truth. I salute him.Ideas and stories by Africans for Africans are the only real solutions to our issues
With so many questions and negativity around the well being of Africa as a continent, the creation of the website ‘Ideally My Africa’ rose from a search for self-identity in Africa and to work through those issues by way of community interaction. The search for pride or the lack of it, was cited as the main underlying factor contributing to the mass exodus to non-African countries and lethargic attitudes by a large portion of the continent’s youth. This missing pride that is calling to the youth is a result of them not having a direct part to play in the solutions to their own community’s issues. The youth have not had easy access to any way of doing good for their communities, as ‘an inherent need to do good is at the crux of all humanity.’ Hence the website exists as a platform for the youth, those who always see the glass half empty or all those who see it as half full and those who just want a better Africa; an opportunity to provide solutions to what they believe has or might cripple Africa.
Launched about two months ago by Nick Benson, the website is easy to navigate and promotes easy communication between visitors as well as users. The website allows anyone in the world to tell their intelligent and innovative solution to Africa’s issues and the site will promote and follow up on those ideas. In that way, hopefully someone in a position that can help, does help. The concept is very simple and easy to understand; people can come together propose solutions, discuss those solutions and put them into viable, sustainable actions. They can all come together for the common good. And eventually, hopefully, things can be done. Rather than sitting and moaning about the world around them!
The strength of the site is the power it gives communities, encouraging them to come together to actively take control of the world that they live in; to move in a direction for change. To create their own waves, rather than waiting for their waves to rise.
Asked on the impact of the site so far, Nick Benson, the site founder explains; “people are starting to think, to question and to move” He stress the point that “Attitudes do not change overnight. They are a learnt response to situations, not a trip switch. And this is clearly seen as a long term campaign. But hopefully, by showing people what is out there; by getting those creative minds churning. By getting people to just think and share and use that African ingenuity and not rely on Big Corporate or Government to come up with all the solutions. That ordinary people can simply talk, share, motivate and move towards a bright, adventure filled future, together,”
Urging Africans to become pro-active in the face of Africa’s issues is the website’s clear message. To change the way people are treated and how far Africa can go, as a continent, as a community, as a spirit.
Letter from Zimbabwe by John Winter
I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF. The darkest hour is always before dawn.
We
are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next........I mean
they are actually ploughing down brick and mortar houses and one family
with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when 100 riot
police came in with AK47's and bulldozers and demolished their
beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings - because it was 'too
close to the airport', so we are feeling extremely insecure right now.
You
know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if
you do not know - how can you help? Even if you put us in your own
mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be with us - that
is a help -but I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you
what's going on here simply because you will feel uncomfortable. There
is no ways we can leave here so that is not an option.
I ask
that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know
that you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes... that's
all. You can't just be in denial and pretend/believe it's not going on.
To be frank with you, it's genocide in the making and if you do
not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which
says we are - IN level 7 - (level 8 is after it's happened and everyone
is in denial).
If you don't want me to tell you these
things-how bad it is-then it means you have not dealt with your own
fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our
situation. We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in
a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs
and say - oh well, that's what happens in Africa
This
Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our
plight---or how can we be rescued? It's a reality! The petrol queues
are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the
thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no
food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality. Today a family
approached me, brother of the gardener's wife with two small children.
Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already
support 8 adult people and a child on this property, and electricity is
going up next month by 250% as is water.
How can I take on another family of 4 -----and yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?
I
am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here - I am asking you
to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and want you
please to pass on our news and pictures. So PLEASE don't just press the
delete button! Help best in the way that you know how.
Do face
the reality of what is going on here and help us SEND OUT THE WORD..
The more people who know about it, the more chance we have of the
United Nations coming to our aid. Please don't ignore or deny what's
happening.
Some would like to be protected from the truth BUT
then, if we are eliminated, how would you feel? 'If only we knew how
bad it really was we could have helped in some way'.
[I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what's coming to us]
For
now,--- we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of
money for the next meal - but what is going to happen next? Will they
start on our houses? All property is going to belong to the State now.
I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a
hold of those, I can't fight for my rights.
Censorship!----We
no longer have SW radio [which told us everything that was happening]
because the Government jammed it out of existence - we don't have any
reporters, and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters
here, they would have an absolute field day. Even the pro-Government
Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered and
blown mindless by the wanton destruction of many folks homes, which are
supposed to be 'illegal' but for which a huge percentage actually do
have licenses.
Please! - do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something can/may be done.
'I
am one. I cannot do everything, ---but I can do something.. And because
I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I
can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace
of God,
I will do.'
Ideally My Africa
So, our country has issues... And if mass media is to be believed, so does the rest of the world.
Standing around with friends and strangers at a braai or bar, I find myself defending my (our) country. I rattle off how young and great our country is, how much potential it has to be even greater and what a fantastic melting pot our country is for new ideas. Ending with a stirring omarge’ to the Charge of the Light Brigade; how I will die on the soil I was born on and carry on... (Is it because I am young and naive, myself... maybe.)
Then I take a deep breath and smile and say to myself.... This is home. This is my home. What can I do to make it better?
And I know, there is going to be those who say that it is too late. That the sky IS falling and I am deluding myself and those around me.
But, I am forced to remember one simple thing my father taught me; if you are going to moan about a situation, always propose a solution to resolve it. Never just belittle people for doing something you are afraid of doing yourself.
So, this is the premise of this whole social experiment:
There are issues out there that stare at us every day of our lives. Tell us about it, and propose a solution. It doesn’t have to be a great one, just something that others can think about and discuss.Hopefully, if enough people see your proposed solution, there might be someone in a position to act upon it.
In that way, hopefully, we can all find that one elusive thing that we are all missing when we speak about our home....that sense of unwavering pride, in ourselves and in others.
Tell us what you think of this idea and let us know what else you would like to see;
Visy us and be informed at www.ideallymyafrica.co.za
Posts
