Professor Paul Gadama can make a good candidate and manage the national economy better

Malawi Exclusive 

As Malawi continues to grapple with rising public debt, forex shortages, high inflation and cost of living, economists say the country needs a leader who understands economic management beyond politics.

Professor Paul Gadama, a scholar of public policy and development economics, has emerged as one of the voices offering clear, practical insights on how to fix Malawi’s economy.

Gadama has consistently warned that Malawi’s economic challenges are not due to lack of resources, but poor economic choices and weak leadership.

In his recent analysis, he said: “A country may possess abundant mineral resources, fertile land, a youthful population and hardworking citizens. Yet these advantages, by themselves, do not guarantee prosperity. Resources become engines of development only when they are managed responsibly and directed towards productive activity.”

He has been vocal against Malawi’s growing debt culture, describing it as “borrowed comfort, future burden” where loans are celebrated without clear repayment plans or productive use.

“This is not economic management. It is the slow, silent transfer of today’s political comfort into tomorrow’s suffering,” Gadama warned.

Analysts say his academic background, professional integrity and clean record make him a credible candidate for national leadership. Unlike many political figures entangled in corruption cases, Gadama’s name remains unstained, with a reputation for competence, accountability and people-centred leadership.

With experience in financial analysis, policy formulation and economic strategy, observers believe Professor Gadama has what it takes to restore fiscal discipline, boost production, stabilize the kwacha, attract investment and create jobs.

“Malawi needs fresh blood, candid leadership that can communicate economic realities and make difficult but necessary decisions. Professor Gadama represents that new thinking,” said one economist in Lilongwe.

As the country looks beyond crises, many argue that entrusting the economy to a proven economist like Professor Paul Gadama would be a step towards sustainable development and genuine prosperity.