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Norwegian Minister of International Development Hilde Johnson has said aid is not the only solution to Malawi’s poverty which she described as extreme.
“Aid is just one partial answer and far from sufficient,” said Johnson in an interview at her office Thursday.
The minister, who spent part of her life in Tanzania, said she is still worried because “Malawi easily goes off-track” economically.
“We cannot develop Malawi. Malawi can be developed by Malawians,” she said, adding: “Governance is critical to development.”
Johnson emphasised that Malawi must fight corruption, strengthen delivery of public services, respect rule of law and practise prudent financial management.
She, however, said development of the country also depends on international climate of trade and debt, aid and combined efforts of public, private and civil society sectors.
Norway, she said, works along the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, two organisations that are withholding aid to Malawi.
The minister’s sentiments seem to be in line with the new president’s policies of getting Malawi away from donor dependency.
Norway is one of the major donors to Malawi’s health sector both in training and delivery of services.
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