By Wendy Mkandawire
Minister of Information, Shadric Namalomba, says government has rejected allegations of corruption and nepotism, and criticism over the management of agriculture, fuel and foreign exchange, saying these challenges did not begin with the present administration.
Namalomba was responding to remarks made by UTM President Dalitso Kabambe during a recent interview with a local media house, where he said challenges such as fuel shortages were caused by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
According to Namalomba, Malawians will recall that before September 2025, the country was already facing rising public debt, large budget deficits, high prices, shortage of foreign exchange, difficulties in importing fuel and fertilizer, and serious food insecurity.
He said these problems developed over the years. The current administration inherited them and has made economic recovery a central priority.
Namalomba also highlighted that since His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika returned to power, economic fundamentals have shown a positive trajectory.
He said government achievements report records a reduction in fiscal deficit from 12.5 percent to 9 percent of GDP. This means the gap between government revenue and spending has narrowed, reflecting efforts to control expenditure and strengthen revenue collection.
“Price pressures have also eased. Annual inflation declined from 28.7 percent in September 2025 to 20.0 percent in August 2026. This does not mean prices have returned to earlier levels; it means they are rising more slowly,” he added.
He further said government continues to mobilize funding for fuel procurement and strengthen transport and distribution arrangements, and is working to strengthen domestic production, exports and financial management.
