NAP rates Mutharika positive in year one but calls him to address fuel wooes

Malawi Exclusive 

Address fuel shortages now 

The National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has rated President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s first year in office positively, saying foundations for recovery are emerging but government must now accelerate delivery to translate early stability into tangible improvements in the lives of Malawians.

In its assessment covering 4th October 2025 to 4th October 2026 released on Wednesday under the theme Foundations for Recovery Are Emerging, but Delivery Must Now Accelerate, NAP says the review reflects collective perspectives from its diverse membership informed by evidence based submissions solicited from members and other interest groups.

The Platform says it examined the administration against the economic and governance environment it inherited, commitments made to Malawians, progress registered and challenges that remain, noting that one year can demonstrate direction and progress but cannot reasonably resolve economic and institutional challenges accumulated over many years.

NAP observes measurable signs of economic stabilization with headline inflation declining to 20.0 percent in August 2026 from 28.2 percent in August 2025 while food inflation fell to 13.4 percent, although non food inflation remains high at 31.8 percent and households continue to face significant cost of living pressures.

The grouping therefore recommends that government sustain stabilization with a measurable objective of reducing non food inflation to below 25 percent by the second quarter of 2027 alongside measures to strengthen household purchasing power and address forex and energy constraints that affect investment and production.

On education, NAP recognizes expansion of free secondary education through abolition of tuition, examination and ID fees and the School Development Fund supported by government grants as well as the K42 billion allocation for higher education student loans as important achievements that remove financial barriers, but says expanded access must be matched by quality and employable skills given shortages of teachers, classrooms and learning materials and an underdeveloped technical and vocational system.

In agriculture and food security, NAP acknowledges improved maize availability and moderation in food price inflation as well as government allocation of K931.1 billion to agriculture in 2026/27 including about K111 billion for FISP targeting about 1.22 million beneficiaries with 70,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer reportedly secured.

However it raises concern that allocating the largest share to Southern Malawi is risky given the 2026/27 outlook forecasting below normal and erratic rainfall in parts of the South and Centre, calling for aligning inputs with district level rainfall forecasts, accelerating irrigation, water harvesting and drought tolerant crops and ensuring timely procurement and distribution alongside an early adequately financed El Nino food response plan.

On health, NAP acknowledges increased attention including K1.02 trillion allocation in the 2026/27 budget, efforts to improve medicines availability and a waiver to recruit medical personnel despite recruitment restrictions, but says financing and recruitment must translate into reliable care at facility level, noting shortages persist and Kamuzu Central Hospital reportedly has about 5,000 patients awaiting surgery. It recommends consistent availability of medicines with strict inventory controls and digital tracking to protect supplies from theft, expedited recruitment under the waiver and strengthening surgical and referral capacity.

NAP says fuel supply stabilized during much of the first year with prolonged queues largely disappearing and coordination among Ministry of Energy, NOCMA and MERA improving, and recognizes renewed emphasis on rehabilitating roads including the M1, Khwekwere, Liwonde-Matawale, Monkey Bay-Mangochi/Makanjira and Lower Shire roads with government intention to substantially rehabilitate the existing network by 2028.

However the recent return of fuel queues indicates fragility compounded by global market pressures from international conflicts, persistent forex shortages and unresolved questions surrounding the reported K700 million NOCMA transaction. It calls for restoring reliable supply, transparent conclusion to the NOCMA matter, stronger coordination while respecting mandates and accelerating electricity generation and cross border infrastructure including the Mozambique-Malawi interconnector and viable rail or pipeline links with Zambia and Tanzania.

The Platform acknowledges increase of the Constituency Development Fund to K5 billion per constituency and release of K85.5 billion to 30 of the 36 local councils as a significant step towards devolution, but says disbursement remains slow against approximately K1.3 trillion earmarked while six councils had not accessed resources by 24 September 2026 due to unmet conditions, urging stronger council capacity, transparent procurement and regular disclosure of allocations and projects.

On governance, constitutionalism and civic space, NAP acknowledges the President’s refusal to assent to the CDF constitutional amendment following the court decision, reconstitution of the Judicial Service Commission and appointment of the ninth cohort of Malawi Human Rights Commission commissioners effective 20 September 2026, as well as the civil service headcount and payroll verification exercise which had verified about 199,000 of an estimated 292,000 employees by end February with irregularities identified. It however says financing and operational independence of oversight institutions, meritocracy in senior appointments and consistent implementation of accountability mechanisms remain concerns, noting the arrest and prosecution of CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa on treason and false news charges has generated debate but should be left to judicial determination while protecting civic freedoms.

On corruption, NAP welcomes the President’s strong stance including his declaration at swearing in that this is not a time to eat, rollout of the Malawi National Electronic Procurement System, continued ACB investigations and asset preservation measures and efforts to strengthen lifestyle audits, but says credibility must be judged by verifiable results, flagging the prolonged absence of a substantive ACB Director General whose position was re-advertised in August 2026 and calling for adequate resourcing and independence of the Bureau and sparing lawful use of the DPP’s power to discontinue proceedings.

On public debt, forex and fiscal discipline, NAP welcomes fiscal consolidation with Treasury borrowing through bills reportedly falling from K880.4 billion in June to K144.6 billion in July 2026 and progress in discussions with the IMF towards a possible Extended Credit Facility after its mission from 22 September to 6 October 2026 stated reforms provide a good foundation for an IMF supported program, but says domestic debt estimated at K14 trillion about 65 percent of total public debt of approximately K24 trillion remains serious.

NAP acknowledges efforts to expand youth opportunities through labour export programmes including with Israel, the Youth Innovation Fund and youth allocations under CDF, calling for transparent agreements securing fair terms and worker protection and scaling enterprise financing through MEDF with measurable job outcomes alongside local industrialization and value addition. It recognizes tax reforms including PAYE, corporate tax, property tax, capital gains on listed shares, customs and excise measures and the Electronic Invoicing System to improve visibility, but says revenue mobilization must be balanced against excessive burden and calls for broadening the base and publishing cumulative tax burden.

On austerity and public service reform, NAP acknowledges reduced fuel entitlements for senior officials, restrictions on official travel, moratorium on vehicle procurement, restrictions on externally held workshops and a leaner UN General Assembly delegation as well as initial reduction of Principal Secretaries from over 80 to 38, but questions the increase to about 60 and calls for periodic publication of actual savings and piloting MDAs as models of integrity and performance. It further observes that recurring challenges between offices of President and Vice President over three decades signal deeper constitutional questions and recommends an inclusive evidence informed national dialogue on the role of the Vice President.

In its overall assessment, NAP says it is neither that all challenges have been resolved nor that progress has been insignificant, noting encouraging foundations including eased inflation and food price pressures, improved maize availability, expanded free secondary education, devolved resources, resumed road rehabilitation, fiscal restraint and positive constitutional developments, but says substantial challenges remain including forex shortages constraining imports, resurfacing fuel queues, unreliable electricity, serious debt pressures, high cost of living, education quality and skills gaps, health facility shortages, climate vulnerability in agriculture and need to improve implementation and accountability. It concludes that the second year must shift decisively from announcements to implementation and independently verifiable results, saying the assessment signed by Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe and National Coordinator Baxton Nkhoma provides reasonable grounds for cautious confidence.

NAP says one year cannot repair an economy and public systems weakened over many years, it can however establish direction, restore confidence and lay foundations for recovery and there are encouraging indications that such foundations are emerging, and the task now is to build decisively upon them consolidating gains, addressing remaining constraints and translating improving stability into tangible improvements in the lives of Malawians.