Bingu's Press Conference

Bingu held his first post-election press conference yesterday. He sounded more self-assured, less self-defensive, less querulous and, in his own words “elated”. The journalists were articulate, courteous and insistence on getting answers to a number of questions. It was clear the President had been personally hurt by the false reports of his alleged drinking habits and his fear of ghosts. He invited interested journalists to come to the state house and interview the ghosts if they so wished!! Bingu spent some time on the deontology of the profession, chiding some of the journalist for being professionally unethical. He also stressed the need for further training of some of the journalists in specific areas, a point we would endorse

There were two central messages in his press conference. One was that he would respect democratic institutions and that this would include respect of the legitimate interests of the minority. The second was that he would continue along the developmental path he had placed Malawi on. In addition to the priorities of infrastructure and food self-sufficiency he would now add human resource development and industrialisation. From the snwer to a question by one journalist there were intimations that some progress had been made on the Lilongwe University of Science and Technology and that “clearing of the ground” had been started for University of Southern Malawi. What was disturbing in all this news was that nothing was said about how the already existing institutions fit into this scheme of things? The politicians’ and donors’ preference for new structures that they can ceremoniously open has often led to lack of maintenance of existing structures and to enormous waste. Without denying the need for new institutions we remain firmly convinced that our exisiting institutions of higher learning are scandalously underutilised. One can hope that will be a wake call to leaders of ourexisting institutions. Be proactive!!!

As for industrialisation there three points made: One was that the government would set up the Malawi Development Bank. Wewill return to the in a a latter epistle from the Hole.The second was that the government would improve the supply of electricity through rehabilitation of existing power plants and the building of the dam on Rukuru for which funds have been mobilised. Strangely there was no mention of the Caborra Bassa connection.

The third was around processing of our raw materials. The President declared there and then that there would be no export of raw cotton. We remain sceptical about the wisdom of easy issuance of decrees. And given the planned investments in Balaka by the Chinese the decree may be superfluous.

On agriculture diversification was to be the central preoccupation. This would be partly achieved through integrated rural development and the “GREEN BELT”

One frustrating thing about current government practice is the announcement of what obviously large projects is their ad hoc nature outside a clear government investment plan. There is little information on these projects: how big they are, where the finances will come from, what the time schedule is etc. These could be posted on the government website. This information is vital for investors. - large and small. If we are going to build a disco at Jenda we would like to know more about the construction of the road.

All in all this was a superb perfomance and Bingu sounded relaxed and in full control of his government.