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Business
Ecama wants quick action on strategy
by Ephraim Munthali, 13 March 2003
The Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama), happy with the contents of the draft growth strategy, has urged government not to waste time on bureaucracy but implement the strategy quickly to save the country from economic doom.
Ecama publicity secretary Perks Ligoya said in an interview on Wednesday government has prepared good documents before but has failed to implement them to achieve the drawn objectives.
“The task force [on the growth strategy] should ensure that comprehensive proposals for each sector earmarked are implemented. For example, the tourism development plan is very good. If we can have something like that for all the sectors and commit ourselves to implement it, I am telling you this country can develop,” he said.
The Ministry of Tourism, Parks and Wildlife a fortnight ago launched the tourism strategic development plan for the years between 2002 and 2007 which has focused on the development of eco-tourism with the overall objective of increasing foreign exchange earnings, creation of employment and retention of earnings from the sector.
The national economic growth strategy plan is aiming at a minimum annual growth of six percent, a target that government believes will meaningfully reduce the country’s poverty and enable Malawi become a middle income country by the year 2020.
Ligoya said economic planners need to be realistic in framing goals and described the six percent growth rate per year as a dream at the moment because the economy is already ill and will need a bit of time before the dosage starts having effect.
The Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) had wanted to achieve the same goal but the only noticeable development was a 2.2 percent slump in Real Domestic Product (GDP), according to official revised figures.
“I am not saying it is impossible but I am pessimistic that we can achieve that next year or even the year after that, especially with the forthcoming general elections in 2004 which will involve a lot of expenditures. May be in 2006 and 2007. The process will have to be gradual,” he said.
DEP&D; director general Zak Chalira said last month that his department will ensure that the goal is achievable in the shortest time possible.
According to Ligoya, Ecama is happy with the formation of the new department, now under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, saying his association has always propagated that ministry be de-linked from the Ministry of Finance so that there is discipline economic management.
Government formed DEP&D; in January—replacing the National Economic Council (NEC)—which has now become a ministry headed by former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) deputy governor Bingu wa Mutharika.

 
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