DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY

SUSTAINING A
PEOPLE-CENTRED
GOVERNMENT
A GOVERNMENT WE CAN TRUST

Manifesto
2025-2030
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CONTENTS
FOREWORD 5 CHAPTER 5:ENABLERS 46
OUR COLLECTIVE VISION 8 5.1 MINDSET CHANGE 47
OUR MISSION 8 5.2 RULE OF LAW, GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION 48
OUR PLEDGE 8 5.2.1 GOOD GOVERNANCE 48
OUR CALL FOR UNITY 8 5.2.2 SECURITY 50
CHAPTER 1: CONTEXT 10 5.2.3 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND THE DIASPORA 55
CHAPTER 2: GUARANTEES AND SAFEGUARDS 14 5.3 PUBLIC SERVICE PERFORMANCE 57
CHAPTER 3: THE MACROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK 16 5.4 PRIVATE SECTOR, INDUSTRY AND TRADE 58
CHAPTER 4: PILLARS OF DEVELOPMENT 24 5.5 HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT 63
4.1 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND 5.5.1 EDUCATION 63
COMMERCIALIZATION 25 5.5.2 HEALTH, NUTRITION, SANITATION AND HYGIENE 68
4.2 INDUSTRIALISATION 28 5.5.3 YOUTH AND SPORTS 74
4.2.1 MINING 30 5.5.4 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER 76
4.2.2 TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE 32 5.5.5 DISADVANTAGED PERSON, ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH
4.2.3 ENERGY 35 SPECIAL NEEDS 79
4.2.4 ICT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 38 5.6 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DISASTER RISK
4.3 URBANISATION 38 MANAGEMENT 81
4.3.1 TOURISM 39 5.6.1 CLIMATE CHANGE 81
4.3.2 CREATION OF SECONDARY CITIES 42 5.6.2 DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT 82
4.3.3 LAND, HOUSING AND WATER SERVICES 42 5.7 NON-STATE ACTORS: MEDIA, CIVIL SOCIETY &
4.4 DECENTRALISATION 44 RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS 83
5.8 CREATIVE ARTS 84
CHAPTER 6: A CALL TO MALAWIANS AND PARTNERS 88

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FOREWORD
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is here, once Under the DPP, Malawi will graduate into an inclusively
again with its development and governance blueprint for the wealthy and self-reliant industrialised upper-income country by.
period 2025 to 2030. This Manifesto reflects DPPs beliefs and Just like the DPP pledged in 2019 to turn Malawi into a middle-
values which are grounded on people-centered development income country by 2030, we are here to continue a Government
approaches, long term infrastructure developments, people- that the people of Malawi want; a Government they can trust, a
driven economic paradigms, and a culture of respect for human Government that will continue to deliver on its promises.
rights and human dignity for all. This is in line with the Malawi
2063, and its First 10-year Implementation Plan (MIP-1), as The DPP has been tried and tested and has proved its
guided by the Political Parties (Amendment) Act, No.1 of 2022. worth. At the time we formed government in 2014, we found a
broken economy, with inflation at 27 percent and we reduced
Our country has structural challenges that make it it to single digits; we inherited a country with debt levels equal
vulnerable to exogenous shocks resulting in hunger, disease to the size of the national budget, and a country with foreign
and unemployment. But this is the reason Malawi has the exchange cover of less than one month. Donors who had been
DPP and its leadership to end the vicious cycle. While the DPP supporting 40 percent of the budget had just deserted our
government ensured that nobody died of hunger throughout country because of the infamous cashgate which occurred
its reign of office from 2014 to 2020, focus in the coming years under the previous government at that time. Further, in less than
will be on sustainable development. a year in office, floods and later drought hit the country and left
more than half of the population at the risk of starvation. Yet,
We stabilized the economy and embarked on sustainable we prevailed over these challenges, we worked hard, and God
development, which unfortunately the current government had always been on our side to the extent that we left a stable
has almost collapsed. The DPP will build resilience to natural and growing economy in 2020.
disasters and get the country ready for a productive nation that
will compete and progress on the global scale. We are the DPP, Our country has once again been plunged into a deep
and we deliver what we promise. economic, social and political crisis by the Malawi Congress
Party government. The current government is led by a Party
which has proven beyond reasonable doubt that it is the

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most incompetent, wasteful and inhuman political party ever Specific supportive programs have been constructed in
to have led our country. We will be going to the Presidential, the ten MW2063 Enablers, namely: Mindset Change; Rule of
Parliamentary and Local Government elections in September Law; Security, International cooperation and diaspora, Public
2025 with inflation above 30%, youth unemployment at over Sector Performance; Private Sector Dynamism; Human Capital
90%, public debt at more than MK16 trillion (80 percent of GDP Development; Education, Health, Youth, Women Empowerment,
and growing), and endemic foreign exchange shortages. The Disadvantaged Persons, Environmental Sustainability; Non-
Malawi economy is in a state of a crisis; the economy is broken. State Actors and the Creative Arts.

The Democratic Progressive Party promises only what With this Manifesto we mean business. Our development
it can deliver. In 2014 we made and fulfilled promises to will be rooted in the people we will be serving. We will create
drastically reduce the number of households which were sustainable jobs. We will decentralize our budgets in real sense.
perpetually without food; promises to ensure security to
individuals, households and businesses; promises on ICT and We will allocate K5 billion every year to each and every
road infrastructure; promises to revamp the health sector and constituency, that is, K2.25 billion to be spent in every ward
promises to consolidate the gains made in the education sector every year. In addition, each constituency will be allocated
for the full realization of human capital development; promises K100 million every year for our youths to access soft loans for
to fight corruption, promises on public sector reforms; decent businesses. Every constituency will also be allocated K100
and affordable housing; and cash transfers to the poor and million for businesses operated by women.
elderly; promises on farm input subsidy programme; promises
on community colleges; and many more. The DPP understands that we have a lot of untapped skills
in this country. This is why every year, each constituency will be
allocated K50 million for sports and creative arts. We will also
We promised to turn the economy around and set the promote artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
country on the path to sustainable growth and development.
We have delivered on all these, despite some bottlenecks and Through this decentralization model, at least 229
structural constraints we faced. professionals will be recruited as Executive Directors together
with thousands of engineers, doctors, nurses, auditors,
This manifesto is about a comprehensive economic researchers, artisans, and many more. These will be based at
empowerment programme targeting all the people with constituency offices across the country.
deliberate focus on the youth. The DPP government will
focus on programmes that will spur growth and address the The DPP is people-centred.
bottlenecks to growth and development. These include the
MW2063’s three Pillars, namely: Agricultural Productivity and At the international level, the DPP Manifesto reflects our
Commercialisation; Industrialisation; and Urbanisation. belief in multilateralism and the need to turn Malawi into an
active player in economic globalization. Consequently, this
Manifesto establishes a platform for the domestication of the

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United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs), the 2063 African Union Agenda, the Istanbul Programme
of Action (IPoA), the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA), the
Southern African Development Community Regional Indicative
Strategic Development Plan (SADC RISDP), the Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Treaty, the
African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) just to mention a
few. The DPP believes that Malawi is not an island, but is an
integral member of the international community.

On behalf of the mighty Democratic Progressive Party, I

am happy to invite all Malawi citizens within and outside the
country, to join the winning party, the DPP, and to participate in
the political, economic and social development of our country. I
also cordially welcome Malawi citizens of European, American,
Asian, other African and Arabic descent who have made their
home in Malawi or who are residing here, to join hands with the
DPP so that together we can build our country for the benefit of
our children, our grandchildren and for all generations to come.
Now that the DPP government realized our dream for Dual-
Citizenship which is now legalized; and with Patriotism, Integrity
and Hard Work as our development pillars, with Agricultural
productivity and commercialisation; Industrialisation and
Urbanisation we will transform Malawi within the shortest time
possible. The DPP is set and ready to transform Malawi into an
inclusively wealthy and self-reliant industrialised upper-middle
income country enroute to 2063.

H.E. PROF. ARTHUR PETER MUTHARIKA

PRESIDENT, DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY,
PAGE HOUSE, MANGOCHI, MALAWI

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OUR COLLECTIVE VISION We will deliver people-centered development; and

practice developmentally-driven politics. We shall provide sound
An inclusively wealthy and self-reliant Nation political and economic leadership and work with all Malawians,
thereby consolidating peace, harmony, security and stability as
OUR MISSION the basis for prosperity of our country. Most fundamental of all,
we pledge to walk the talk and turn our development promises
Our mission is to facilitate self-sufficiency and instil self- into real benefits for the people. Our pedestal shall continue to
confidence through people-driven governance structures, be Patriotism, Integrity and Hardwork.
transparency and accountability systems, and a deeper sense
of socio-economic independence in Malawians. This will be
achieved by creating a conducive environment for wealth OUR CALL FOR UNITY
creation, hard work, and sustainable pro-growth jobs. We will
also redistribute wealth and increase the supply of quality goods In the spirit of progress and the well-being of every
and services for both domestic and international markets while Malawian, we in the DPP, realize that our shared commitment to
making Malawi open for trade and investment. the future of this beautiful country transcends tribal and political
differences. Whether we sit on the benches of government or
OUR PLEDGE opposition, we should all share one common goal: to serve the
people of Malawi with integrity, dedication, and vision. Our
We will make Malawi hunger-free again, and stabilise and differences should not be barriers to progress, but opportunities
grow the economy. to enrich our nation’s collective wisdom.

We will desire and resolve to be an inclusively wealthy

and self-reliant industrialized upper-middle-income country by
the year 2063, so we can fund our development needs primarily
by ourselves. Our manufacturing industry shall have strong
forward and backward linkages with the sectors that will drive
it. We shall achieve this Vision through collective effort and shall
not allow any state or non-state actor to derail us.

In unity, we find strength. In strength, we build a prosperous

Malawi for today, and for future generations.

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CHAPTER 1

CONTEXT

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Malawi remains one of the least developed countries in
the world. This is unacceptable and must change. The DPP through our 2014 Elections Campaign Manifesto. Most of the
will transform this country into an inclusively wealthy and self- promises were fulfilled:
reliant industrialized upper-middle-income country in line with • No person died of hunger, despite the country having been
the Malawi 2063. exposed to droughts and floods;
• We decreased our reliance on rainfed agriculture by 13
As a direct consequence of the fractured political percent, with 116,000 hectares of land put under irrigation;
economic history inherited from the Kamuzu Banda regime, • We brought down Inflation rate from 27 percent in 2014 to
Malawi relies on agriculture for employment of most of our single digit in 2020;
people and as a source of foreign exchange. We do very little • We had foreign Exchange that could support more than six
value addition and light manufacturing. Since our agriculture is months of imports into our country, compared to less than
largely rain-fed, the economy is vulnerable to weather-related one month that we found in 2014.
shocks and depleting natural resources. • We constructed 20 Community Colleges across the country,
and we were in the process of constructing 8 more in 2020;
The DPP understands that Malawi’s economic • Over 6,000 youths were trained in various technical, vocational
performance has historically been constrained by poor and entrepreneurial skills More than 25,000 students got
infrastructure, policy inconsistency, corruption, high population enrolled in our public universities compared to about 10,000
growth, macroeconomic instability, natural disasters, and poor students that were enrolled in 2014;
health and education outcomes that limit labour productivity.
The DPP further knows that our country has potential for In line with the DPP’s belief to protect the right to housing,
growth in other productive sectors of manufacturing, tourism 22,000 households comprising old people, child-headed
and mining; but the efforts employed so far have not been as families, widows, persons with albinism, and the extremely
effective due to lack of political will and outright leadership poor are now living in decent houses built under the Decent
incompetence, unreliable and inadequate energy supply, and Affordable Housing Program (DAHP) popularly known as
inadequate skills, inconsistent planning and underdeveloped Malata and Cement Subsidy programme.
financial sector, among others. Under the DPP government, the Malawi economy was once the
fastest growing in the SADC region.
Malawi’s population currently stands at just over 22
million and is projected to be 24 million by the year 2030 and • We rehabilitated and constructed major roads across the
45 million by 2063. In 2025, women comprise 51 percent of the country such as the Chikhwawa – Ngabu – Bangula road;
population. Further, 51 percent of the population is below the the Lilongwe West Bypass road; Zomba – Blantyre road;
age of 18, putting Malawi at a high youth dividend advantage. Upgrading of the Jenda – Edingeni road; Milepa – Chiradzulu
Most Malawians live in rural areas, but this fact is fast changing road; the Zomba – Jali – Phalombe – Chitakale road; Thyolo
with an annual urban growth rate higher than 5 percent and – Thekerani – Muona – Makhanga road; Liwonde – Mangochi
by the end of 2025, absolute urban growth will have exceeded road; Lilongwe Old Airport – Kasiya – Kasungu road; Mzuzu
rural growth. – Nkhatabay road; Karonga – Songwe road; Njakwa –
In 2014 - 2019 we promised to transform the country Livingstonia road; Thabwa – Chitseko – Seveni road. We also

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constructed over 100 bridges across the country; including

the Chapananga bridge.

• The DPP secured funding for the rehabilitation of the

following roads: (1) Mchinji round about to Kanengo (China
Aid); (2) M1 from Kanengo to Karonga (European Investment
Bank) and; (3) rehabilitation of the Kamuzu Procession Road
(Japanese Aid)

• DPP in 2018 secured a grant from USAID on the

construction of 250 secondary schools distributed across the
193 constituencies and MCP Government failed to construct
151 secondary schools under the programme and were
therefore withdrawn. Further to this, through the EQUALS
project under the World Bank, we secured construction of
100 Community Day Secondary Schools.
• The DPP Government expanded infrastructure and
programmes in all constituent colleges of public universities
in order to increase intake and provide modern equipment.
These are Chancellor College, the Polytechnic, College
of Medicine, Bunda College, Kamuzu College of Nursing,
Natural Resources College, Mzuzu University and Malawi
University of Science and Technology (MUST).
• In 2019, the DPP Government unbundled the University
of Malawi into three distinctive universities; University of
Malawi (formerly Chancellor College), Malawi University of
Business and Applied Sciences( formerly Polytechnic) and
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (formerly College of
Medicine and Kamuzu College of Nursing). The process has
made these universities stand alone and increased staffing
levels as well as increased access to university education.
• We abolished the Quota System of selecting students for
secondary as well as tertiary education, as introduced by
MCP Government in 1987.

• We rehabilitated and constructed roads in all the four

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cities of Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Zomba and Blantyre. These

include connecting roads and bypass roads. For example,
we constructed dual carriageway in Mzuzu; the Parliament
Round-About – Bingu National Stadium Roundabout dual
carriageway in Lilongwe; and Chileka Roundabout – Magalasi
dual carriage road in Blantyre. We also constructed many
ring, radial and arterial roads in locations.

• Through the Malawi Rural Electrification Program (MAREP)

8, we provided electricity to 473 trading centres and villages,
the single largest reach in the history of the country.
• We constructed a state of the art and purpose-built
SQAM Laboratory and Office Complex in Blantyre fully
funded by the DPP Government to facilitate both domestic
and international trade by ensuring that products and
services consistently meet the quality, safety, and regulatory
requirements.
• A few competing challenges existed; among them the
growing population, which is affecting the rate at which
the positive growth registered benefits the majority of
Malawians. On the other hand, however, our youths of
under 30 years of age constitute about 70 percent of the
population, occasioning the DPP government to capitalise
on the demographic dividend where the youth will help
accelerate economic growth through increased productivity
in the job market.
From 2025 to 2030, the DPP Government will
continue with its development agenda, including the positive
developments that may have started or happened in the period
2020 to 2025, a lost half-decade.
• We will mobilise enough resources needed to attain
the dreams of the people of Malawi. We will sustain the
management of a sound macroeconomic framework, with
a single-digit inflation, and by 2030, we aim to grow the
economy by an average of 6 percent. The DPP government
already set the foundation for this.

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CHAPTER 2

GUARANTEES
AND
SAFEGUARDS
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The Democratic Progressive Party lives by its word. It only
promises what it can deliver and delivers what it promises. We • The DPP will continue to promote women in business, in
are Progressive. We are Patriotic. We are Hardworking. We are of leadership, in development and in the cultural heritage of
high Integrity. We can be trusted. our country. We shall increase women representation in the
Parliament, the Cabinet, the Civil Service and all aspects of
• We will form the next Government again aware that Malawi’s development.
aid taps from Western donors have dried up. We have the • The DPP will continue to invest in the youths, providing
experience of running a Government without budget support them with skills especially in community technical colleges.
between 2014 and 2020, a period in which government • We will protect the interests of the elderly and persons with
ministries, departments and agencies never experienced different abilities.
zero funding. We are ready to build on that experience to • The DPP will continue to ensure that Malawi is a place
move Malawi forward with locally generated resources. where all bonafide investors, diplomats and international
• Malawi will grow sufficient food for consumption and organizations will feel safe, secure and at home. They will be
export. invited to contribute actively and positively to our economic
• The Democratic Progressive Party believes that we cannot development.
move Malawi forward by leaving the majority behind. We • The DPP will continue to encourage a knowledge-based
shall, therefore, introduce an inclusive economy in which no economy informed by research in institutions of higher
one is left behind. We subscribe to the idea of “One Malawi, learning, related institutions and think-tanks.
One Destiny” in which we either transform or fail together. • We will manage and safeguard the finances and natural
The DPP will, therefore, make inclusive national development resources of the country with integrity and patriotism.
a uniting agenda of all Malawians who desire to move from • We will run a lean and inclusive Cabinet.
poverty to prosperity. • We will rationalize the number and quality of Principal
• We subscribe to the practice of inclusion. We believe that Secretaries.
we cannot move Malawi forward by leaving the majority or • DPP will review and rationalize the functions of parastatals
minority behind. We will introduce inclusive education in and other State-Owned Enterprises
which learners with different abilities will have a suitable • The Democratic Progressive Party will continue with an
curriculum and examination that suits them. As such, we will external policy that strengthens our national sovereignty
ensure that children with autism and all manner of different and promotes growth and development of our country. As
learning abilities are not left behind in the education system Malawians living outside the country will be enjoying their
and the job market. dual-citizenship status, they will be encouraged to contribute
• It was the DPP Government that formed the National to the development of Malawi.
Planning Commission and we will support long term • We will have a Manifesto Monitoring and Evaluation
development planning by the Commission. The DPP will Unit that will work with the National Planning Commission
continue to focus on investment rather than aid as our on tracking implementation of the commitments we are
development policy. For example, investment in education making in this 2025 - 2030 Manifesto.
shall be promoted by extending every primary school to a •
secondary school in order to achieve 100% transition from
primary to secondary school by 2063.
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CHAPTER 3

THE
MACROECONOMIC
FRAMEWORK

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The success of MIP-1’s wealth creation drive relies on 3.1.1 FISCAL CONSOLIDATION MEASURES
the existence of a stable macroeconomic environment to
strengthen private sector participation in the economy. Over The DPP government will implement serious fiscal
the past four years, Malawi’s macroeconomy has been unstable. consolidation measures that will make the country save around
Between 2021 and 2024, inflation rate averaged 25 percent and K500 billion in 2026, K700 billion in 2027, and K1.5 trillion per
increased to 34.2 percent in the first three months of 2025 and year from 2028 to 2030. Specifically, the DPP government will:
is feared to remain elevated till August 2025. The policy rate has
followed the same trend and is currently standing at 26 percent • Have a lean and inclusive Cabinet.
from 12 percent in 2020. • Drastically reduce the budget for State Residences.
• Freeze the purchase of new vehicles for public officials.
The country’s official forex reserves are currently at their • Implement strict Commitment Controls under the
lowest in 10 years. To make matters worse, with the domestic Integrated Financial Management Information System
primary balance in the negative territory, the public debt stock (IFMIS) to contain creation of arrears and eliminate guarantees
at MK 16.4 trillion from MK4.1 trillion in 2020 has reached an by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
unsustainable levels. The unsustainable rise in Public debt is on • Develop and implement a Domestic Revenue Mobilization
account of Government excessive borrowing from the banking Strategy (DRMS) to increase revenue by 5 percentage points
system which has resulted in the crowding out of the private of GDP by 2030 through widening of the tax base, improving
sector. In line with these depressing economic metrics GDP tax compliance, improving the perception of the tax system,
growth was marginal during the period between 2021 and 2024 strengthening institutional capacity for revenue mobilization
and is estimated to have averaged 1.0 percent. In fact, real GDP (modernization of MRA operations and revamping the VAT
growth declined by 1.8 percent in 2024. system), and improving non-tax revenue collection.
• Rationalise fiscal expenditure and stop implementation of
In order to address these challenges on the economy, the non-budget activities.
DPP will implement measures to stabilize the economy and • Reform the Agriculture Input Program (AIP) with a view to
reduce inflation to single digit by end-2027. These measures improve targeting, cut wastage and increase efficiency and
will set the stage for a rebound in the growth of the economy to effectiveness for sustainable food security in Malawi and
an average of 6.5 percent from 2028 to 2030. higher impact agriculture.
• Review VAT exemptions on motor vehicles for public officers
with a view to eliminating the unnecessary ones.
3.1 STABILISATION OF THE ECONOMY • Enhance transparency and accountability in state-owned
enterprises
The DPP government will deploy a combination of fiscal, • Reverse the decisions to relocate MACRA, MHC, MBC, Prison
foreign exchange, monetary and debt management measures Services, NSO, etc to Lilongwe
to stabilize the economy. The measures will be as follows: • Rationalise the public service, including foreign missions.
• Rationalise the operational costs of Parliament.

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The above fiscal consolidation measures will save our country 3.1.3 MONETARY POLICY MEASURES
about K5.15 trillion. These funds will be used to start reducing
the public debt to move the domestic primary balance from The DPP understands that our economy is in such a bad
negative to positive, and to directly or through PPP invest in state that as we move towards the September General Elections,
growth propelling projects identified under MIP-1. consumers have greatly reduced spending compared to what
they used to have five years ago. We know that the economic
environment has negatively affected businesses and has led
to many leading firms laying off workers and even stopping
3.1.2 EXCHANGE RATE STABILIZATION MEASURES investing in new capacity. Exports have almost stopped and the
country is in dire need of forex exchange. Meanwhile inflation
Under the DPP government, the exchange rate will be stable is at above 30 percent, the highest level in the past decade. In
and predictable. Within 6 months, we will: short the economy is in crisis.
• Work with the IMF to craft an ECF programme that takes into
account Malawi’s peculiar and unique realities. Moving forward, the DPP government will implement
• Enter into Ten-year USD 1.5 – USD 2.0 Billion financial a hybrid of monetary policies aimed at stimulating economic
arrangements with regional and international financial activities and consequently create employment; and also curb
institutions to support the official foreign reserve position of inflation. We will therefore:
the country. • set the monetary policy rate at a level consistent with positive
• Reintroduce US$500 million Government guaranteed real interest rates to tame inflation.
revolving Letters of Credit (L/C) facilities between the Reserve • slow down reserve money growth from 26 percent at the
Bank of Malawi (RBM) and some regional banks for financing beginning of 2025 to 10 percent at the end of 2028
of Malawi’s strategic imports (fuel, fertilizer, medicines). • contain Reserve Bank’s net lending to Government; and
• Reverse the decision by the current administration to decelerate Broad money growth from 17.9 percent in 2025
transfer Foreign Currency Dominated Accounts (FCDAs) from to 10 percent in 2028.
Commercial Banks to the RBM.
• Reverse all the negative exchange control regulations on
FCDAs belonging to Non-Governmental Organisations, 3.1.4 DEBT MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Foreign missions and Malawians in Diaspora.
• Reverse exchange control regulations on mandatory Malawi is heavily indebted and the economy is chocking.
conversion of export receipts. As of end 2024, the country’s total public debt stood at K16.19
trillion, representing approximately 86.4% of the country’s Gross
With the above measures, Malawi will have a stable exchange Domestic Product (GDP).
rate and a very narrow parallel market premium.
Malawi’s debt portfolio is heavily skewed towards short-
term obligations, with approximately 38.5 percent of total
public domestic debt maturing in year 2025. This maturity

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profile clearly reflects an over-reliance on short-term domestic

debt instruments, such as Treasury bills and Ways and Means
advances from the Reserve Bank to finance government’s fiscal
deficits and manage cash flow needs.

The DPP government will manage the debt differently.

Specifically, we will:
• Adhere to the annual borrowing plan issued in conformity
with the Medium-Term Debt Strategy
• Negotiate and restructure debts for sustainable settlement
• Prioritize contracting of concessional loans, against
commercial loans.
• Not enter into any contractual obligations for new external
public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) non-concessional debt
for at least two years until a review has been conducted.
• Borrow only for productive purposes and not for consumption.
• Develop a new Medium-Term Debt Strategy 2025-2030.
• Attain a positive primary balance of the central government
of at least MK 270 Billion (1 percent of GDP) by end of the
first year, 2026.

3.2 RESOURCE ENVELOPE

The DPP Government will strive to live within its means

and avoid excessive borrowing that can burden innocent future
generations. This is why our manifesto will be based on revenues
that will be within our control as Malawians.

The DPP estimates a cumulative revenue combined

budget of MK 28.5 Trillion in 5 years, as assumed in the existing
Revenue Mobilization Strategy. Domestic revenue is estimated
to grow by 1.5 percent of GDP annually beginning with the
2025 revenue, while grants are estimated to slow down in the
wake of donor fatigue and the international political economy
dynamics. By 2030, domestic primary balance will have moved
from the current negative to positive 2 percent of GDP.

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3.3 GROWING THE ECONOMY

After stabilizing the economy, the DPP government

will anchor investments in key growth enabling projects as
highlighted in MIP-1, where we will invest MK6.35 trillion of
own funds saved through fiscal consolidation and stabilization
measures. These funds will be allocated into optimal capital
structure from development partners and concessional loans.
Our level of borrowing will be such that it does not create
debt distress and that the Government is able to service the
debt without recourse to further borrowing. Hence the DPP
Government will ensure that the Domestic Primary Balance
remains above 1 percent from 2028-2030.

Priority investments will be made into the following growth

generating sectors:
• Power generation.
• Mining
• Economic infrastructure – railway, roads, industrial parks,
export processing zones, airports, inland water transport,
access to the sea.
• Agriculture productivity and commercialization of cotton, soy
beans and wheat for value addition and maize for national
food security
• Structured import substitution
• Production of exportable goods and services in which Malawi
has a comparative advantage within the region
• Tourism

3.4 LEVERAGING FINANCIAL MARKETS

The DPP Government will leverage on the huge financial

resources available within the financial markets in the form
of Pension and Insurance funds to negotiate win-win joint
financing structures for the growth enabling projects.

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CHAPTER 4

PILLARS OF
DEVELOPMENT

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Guided by the Malawi 2063, the DPP’s development Inorder to achieve this green revolution, the DPP government
agenda will be anchored by the following four pillars; Agricultural will specifically implement the following:
Productivity and Commercialisation, Industrialisation,
Urbanisation and Decentralisation. • Promote crop diversification of prioritised high value crops for
food and nutrition security as well as increased incomes. In
4.1 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND this regard, different high-value crops will be recommended
COMMERCIALIZATION for different regions paired with different cropping systems.
For example,
Malawi’s economy is anchored by agriculture, contributing • in the Lower Shire Valley bio-fortified sorghum and
an average of 30 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) pearl millet paired with conservation agriculture, stress-
over the past 10 years. However the sector, which relies on small tolerant crop varieties, and cereal-legume intercropping/
scale farmers and employs 80 percent of the population, faces rotation would be promoted.
huge challenges in productivity and diversity; over-reliance on • for the Lake shore, Middle, and Upper Shire, drought-
smallholder farmers; and a focus on maize for staple food. tolerant, Pro-Vitamin A Maize, improved rice varieties,
and Bio-Fortified Sweet Potatoes, among others will be
Maize has been a focus of Malawi’s policy agenda, promoted alongside maize/cassava and pigeon pea/bean
despite the fact that other crops such as cassava, rice, sweet inter-crop rotated with groundnuts/cowpea, pigeon pea
potatoes, sorghum, bananas, and Irish potatoes grow equally inter-cropping or cotton.
well. Tobacco is the main export crop contributing more than • Revitalise the extension system for enhanced service delivery.
40 percent of the country’s annual export earnings, followed by Specifically, we will
tea, sugar, dried legumes, cotton and nuts. • Recruit and retain more front-line workers and specialised
agricultural staff at district and EPA level;
The DPP Government is committed to facilitate agricultural • Resuscitate the former Land Husbandry Training Centre,
transformation through improved productivity, sustainability, and rehabilitate Residential Training Centres; Day
and agricultural trade and commercialisation. We will therefore Training Centres; offices especially at Extension Planning
create a conducive environment for economic activities that Areas (EPAs) and research stations and staff houses;
sustainably increase food and nutrition security as well as • Regularly and continuously train both frontline extension
sustainable growth in the agricultural sector. This is expected to staff and farmers;
translate into improved agricultural incomes and contribute to • Strengthen research extension-farmer linkages for
wealth creation among actors along the agriculture value chain. increased adoption of agricultural technologies for
various agricultural and aquatic value chains; and
The DPP government will further promote emerging • Review the Extension Policy;
medium-scale farming operations to engage in intensive • Increase budgetary allocation for agriculture and
farming, including greenhouse agriculture and specialised, irrigation development, and increase the land under
commercially-oriented agriculture enterprises such as raising commercial agriculture from the current 20 percent to
livestock, fish farming, horticulture, and the cultivation of 40 percent by 2030.
legumes. We will have a “Green Revolution.”
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• Ensure timely access to improved, quality and affordable

crop production inputs targeting all farmer categories
including smallholder, medium and large estates by:
• addressing supply chain logistical problems to reduce
the cost of farm inputs;
• developing a fertilizer production plant
• resuscitate a reformed Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme
(FISP) to target poor smallholder maize farmers who
have land and ability to farm and are in well organized
and trained clubs;
• establish a farm credit financing facility for cooperatives,
medium/emerging farmers and large estate farmers to
be managed by commercial banks; and
• promoting increased availability of affordable seeds and
planting materials.

• Provide fiscal incentives for the production of high value

non-traditional crops such as industrial hemp, flowers,
horticulture, cereals (especially rice and wheat), legumes,
cotton, macadamia, pulses and livestock products defined
under NES II.

• Promote irrigation farming in order to reduce dependence

on rain-fed agriculture. This will be done by providing a
combination of financial instruments especially matching
grants and preferential financing from the government for
groups of smallholder farmers and credit facility for medium
to large estate farmers. In this regard, the DPP will aim at
increasing land under irrigation from 116,000 hectares in
2025 to 147,000 hectares in 2030.

• Establish 2 government owned model Industrial Farms of

12,500 hectares each, comprising 16,000 hectares for food
security and 9,000 hectares of high value plantations.
• Attract private investments into 60,000 hectares for Industrial
farms by 2030.

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• Reform ADMARC into a fully functional commercial entity • Facilitate increased livestock production and productivity, by
with both local and international market linkages. among other interventions:
• Revitalise the Commodity Exchange to facilitate the • Promoting community participation in livestock breeding
transaction of commodities with quality, delivery and and multiplication;
payment. • Facilitating pass-on programmes for cattle, goats and
• Ensure that the Malawi Strategic Grain Reserves has stock chickens amongst the poor smallholder farmers;
of not less than 150,000 metric tonnes at any given point in • Promoting pest and disease control programmes for all
time. classes of livestock;
• Promote research on and implementation of climate-smart • Strengthening breeding programmes for cattle, goats,
agriculture technologies and resilient practices. sheep and chickens in government farms, and
• DPP is aware that today, agricultural mechanisation is not • Increasing the use of technology in livestock production
mostly held back by lack of demand but by the supply and processing of livestock products.
side problems and it will therefore create a conducive • Facilitating establishment of milk and other value adding
environment for improved access to agricultural machinery processing plants in rural areas.
and equipment.
• Provide fiscal incentives for the importation of high value 4.2 INDUSTRIALISATION
irrigation equipment, especially targeting land preparation,
irrigation, weed control, transportation, pests and disease The DPP believes in life after production of agricultural
control, harvesting and post-harvest processing. At the same products. We believe in a strong manufacturing sector with
time DPP will facilitate the production of low cost and small strong forward and backward linkages to develop a vibrant
scale farm machinery for farmers largely through PPP. knowledge-based economy. In this regard, the DPP will
• Facilitate and support the establishment of anchor farms, prioritise promotion and growth of the private sector to be
cooperative and village grain banks. the engine and a source of fiscal revenue, foreign exchange
• Increase access to lucrative and structured markets for all and employment for our country. The DPP government will
prioritised agricultural commodities by implementing the prioritize six key industries where Malawi holds competitive
following interventions: advantages: agro-processing, textiles and apparel, mineral
• creating new structured markets for all prioritised processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and technology.
agricultural commodities; Each sector will be developed through Special Economic Zones
• Reforming the existing commodity exchanges for (SEZs) that offer world-class infrastructure, reliable energy, and
increased trade volumes, coverage, storage space and streamlined business processes.
coordination among others;
• Promoting contract farming, out-grower schemes, and
other appropriate market-driven farming models. In agro-processing, we will establish regional hubs for
• Promote fish farming among smallholder farmers, transforming soy, wheat, rice, tea, ethanol, fish, meat, fruits
medium scale farmers and large estate farmers by and vegetables and macadamia into export-ready products.
constructing ponds and dams in rural areas as well as
facilitating the availability of fish feed.
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The textile industry will be revived through cotton-to-garment

production parks, creating thousands of jobs for young
Malawians. Our mineral beneficiation policy will ban raw exports
of graphite and rare earth elements, ensuring Malawi captures
maximum value from its natural resources.

Five strategic SEZs will drive regional industrialization.

Lilongwe will become our agro-processing and tech innovation
hub, while Blantyre will specialize in textiles and advanced
manufacturing. Mzuzu will focus on timber, mining, and
renewable energy technology, with Mangochi developing
fisheries and eco-tourism industries. Karonga will serve as our
northern mineral trade and logistics center. These SEZs will
offer investors tax holidays, duty-free import of machinery, and
priority land access. Thirty percent of SEZ space will be reserved
for youth-led small and medium enterprises, with rent-free
periods for qualifying startups. Each zone will include Industrial
Skills Academies to train young Malawians annually in relevant
technical skills.

The DPP will implement innovative partnership models

to develop SEZ infrastructure and industries. Joint ventures will
see government providing land and infrastructure while private
partners contribute capital and expertise. Through Build-
Operate-Transfer arrangements, private firms will construct
and manage power plants, roads, and water systems before
transferring them to public ownership after an agreed time
period. Major anchor tenants in our SEZs will receive additional
incentives conditional on local sourcing and youth employment
commitments. All partnerships will be governed by strict
transparency measures, including real-time public reporting
through an SEZ Transparency Portal.

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Recognizing the tremendous potential of Malawians

abroad, the DPP will implement a comprehensive diaspora
engagement program. A new Malawi Industrial Growth program
will allow diaspora members to invest in SEZ infrastructure
at competitive rates. The “Expert Return” initiative will bring
diaspora professionals home for short-term skills transfer
programs, with tax-free stipends for those training local workers.
A dedicated Diaspora Investment Desk at the Malawi Investment
and Trade Centre will provide fast-tracked business registration
and matchmaking services. Annual reverse trade missions
will connect diaspora entrepreneurs with local partners and
investment opportunities.

By 2030, the DPP’s industrialization program will deliver

measurable outcomes: creation of new industrial jobs, with 70%
going to Malawian youth; an increase in manufactured exports;
and a reduction in raw mineral exports as we develop domestic
processing capacity.

4.2.1 MINING

The Malawi 2063 identifies mining as one of the strategic

sectors that have potential to support industrialization of our
country’s economy. Currently, the mining sector contributes
only about one percent to the Gross Domestic Product, but has
a potential of contributing up to 20 percent. Key impediments
to the growth of the mining industry include inadequate
mineral exploration, laboratory and monitoring equipment,
inadequate dissemination of information to the general public,
gaps in skilled personnel at all levels as well as lack of staff
establishment in districts and border posts, and inadequate
capacity in contract negotiations.

A strength of the industry is that it has available policy

and legal mandates such as Mines and Minerals Act, Mines

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and Mineral Policy, Petroleum Exploration Act, Explosives Act,

Artisanal and small-scale mining policy.

Through this Manifesto, the Democratic Progressive Party

government commits to:
• Ring-fence all critical minerals (refer to table 1) under the
State Owned Mining Company (MAMICO), including:
• Rare earth metals (tantalum, zircon, niobium) in Kanyika
Hills (Mzimba), Songwe Hills (Phalombe), Makanjira
(Mangochi), and Kanga Nkude (Balaka).
• Graphite mining in Malingunde (Lilongwe) and Ilomba
(Chitipa).
• Ruby extraction in Chimwazulu (Ntcheu).
• Bauxite mining in Mulanje
• Coal mining in Karonga and other areas demonstrates
the country’s rich coal resources.
• Rutile in Kasiya (Lilongwe)
• Ensure that geophysical surveys shall be undertaken regularly
to target mineral exploration for rare earth minerals, precious
and base metals and industrial minerals.
• Put in place the relevant governance and mining legal
frameworks and develop the skills that can support high-
value minerals. The minerals shall be linked to high-end local
production that will be key for high-value export and import
substitution like steel manufacturing.
• Ensure use of mineral resources mapping to develop high
value mines through Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
arrangements. Value addition will increase the returns from
the commodity while creating more jobs for our people,
including the skilled and unemployed youth.
• Provide adequate energy to be used in mining. We will
encourage and facilitate mining companies to generate their
own electricity.
• Support domestic production of equipment and materials
which are used in such important areas as laboratories,
factories and farms.

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MINERAL DEPOSITS IN MALAWI: TABLE 1

MINERAL TYPE LOCATION DELINEATION RESERVES (Million tons/grade) • Formalize and regulate artisanal and
Bauxite Mulanje 28.8/43.9% Al2O3 small-scale mining while linking
them to appropriate technologies
Uranium Kayelekera 12.5/0.2% Ur3O8
and anchor mining firms.
Gold; Copper; • In guiding the sustainability of their
Gypsum; Diamond; operations, enforce the requisite
Nickel; Niobium Balaka health, environment and safety
Monazite/ Kangankunde 11/ 8% standards.
Rutile Kasiya 1.32% rutile • Facilitate establishment of market
for minerals
Corundum Chimwadzulu-Ntcheu
• Facilitate value addition in some of
Graphite Katengeza 8.0/75.6gm per m3 the minerals to enable them fetch
Limestone Malowa 15/48% higher prices on the market.
Chenkumbi 10/46.1% • Capitalize the Malawi Mining
Titanium and Heavy Investment Company (MAMICO) to
Mineral Sands Nkhotakota-Salima 700/5.6% HMS the tune of not less than K500 billion
Chipoka to enable it promote the optimal
development of the mining sector,
Mangochi 680/6.0% HMS
properly manage the Government
Halala 15/6.0 % HMS equity stakes in various mining
Vermiculite Feremu 2.5/4.9% ( ventures and effectively maximize
Coal Mwabvi - Nsanje 4.7/30% ash national revenue and benefits from
Ngana - Karonga 15/21.2% ash mining for Malawi.
Mchenga 5/17% Ash, 0.5% Sulphur and calorific
value of 6,800kcal/kg
Phosphate Tundulu-Phalombe 2.017% P2O5
Pyrite Chisepo 34/8% S
Malingunde 10/12% S
Glass Sands Mchinji 1.6/97% SiO2
Dimension Stone Chitipa Blue, Black, Green, and Pink Granite
Gemstones Mzimba Numerous pegmatites and volcanic
Rare Earth Phalombe

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4.2.2 TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

The DPP realizes that the only way to open up rural

markets and achieve urbanization is to have reliable transport
infrastructure that includes road, rail, air and water. These
infrastructures will open the communities as well as our land-
locked nation, and a key to facilitation of exports and imports.

The current heavy reliance on road transport has resulted

in high logistical costs and inefficiencies. In essence, the DPP
Government will implement the National Transport Master Plan
which the DPP Government developed and launched. This DPP
government will work at enhancing connectivity, reducing
costs, and improving trade competitiveness, as follows:

Linkages with the Ports of Nacala and Beira

The Ports of Beira and Nacala in Mozambique remain
Malawi’s primary gateway for imports and exports. To strengthen
this linkage, the DPP government will:
• Invest in dedicated rail road infrastructure from Liwonde to
Nacala , with priority maintenance and expansion projects.
• Deliver on establishment of a dry port at Liwonde and another
in Blantyre to consolidate cargo and streamline customs
clearance for Nacala or Beira-bound cargo.
• Continue to work on the Nsanje World Inland port through
robust engagement in addressing the identified challenges.
The dream lives on.

Feeder Vessel Linkage Between Quelimane and Beira.

Quelimane offers potential as a feeder port to Beira. In
this regard, the DPP government will:
• Encourage bilateral agreements with Mozambique to develop
feeder vessel services between Quelimane and Beira/Nacala.
• Develop road infrastructure from Quelimane to Blantyre,
offering an alternative and potentially faster import/export
route.

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• Upgrade Chileka and Kamuzu International Airports,
• Build a New International Airport in Mzuzu, and upgrade
Rail Network and Infrastructure Restoration Karonga, Mangochi, and Salima Airports.
• We will prioritize the rehabilitation of the Nacala and Sena
railway corridors linking Malawi with the Mozambican coast. Road Transport
• Strengthen railway links from Blantyre and Lilongwe to the • Expand road rehabilitation projects
existing railheads. • Decentralise the management of Toll-gates to the district
• Seek public-private partnerships (PPP) for sustainable and regional level.
financing and operation. • Ensure road maintenance at district level be the responsibility
• Build a railway line off TAZARA to Chirumba port on Lake of the district using the expanded Constituency Development
Malawi. Fund (CDF)
• Encourage the use of multimodal logistics solutions
Rail Transport combining road, rail, and water transport.
• Consider introducing passenger trains that pass along the • Improve border post infrastructure and procedures for faster
M1 road from Blantyre to Lilongwe. transit times.
• Introduce passenger coach on existing railway from Nsanje
to Mchinji via Liwonde, Salima and Lilongwe.
The DPP Government will construct a network of roads across
the country, including some of which include:
Lake Transport • Mangochi-Makanjira Road
• Develop a robust domestic maritime transport network • Rumphi-Nyika-Nthalire-Chitipa Road
connecting Makanjira, Monkey Bay, Chipoka, Nkhata Bay, • Likuni-Malingunde-Chileka Road
Likoma, Chizumulu and Chilumba. • Dzaleka-Ntchisi-Mpalo-Malomo Road
• Invest in modern cargo vessels and port infrastructure • Tsangano-Neno-Mwanza Road
upgrades at these lake ports and on Likoma Island. • Chitipa-Mbilima Road
• Encourage private sector investment in lake freight services • Nsanama-Nayuchi Road
to complement rail and road transport. • Lirangwe-Namatunu-Chingale-Machinga Road
• Establish a transport system from Dar es Salaam and Mbamba • Rumphi-Nyika Turnoff-Hewe Road
Bay with Chilumba and Nkhata-bay (the Mtwara Transport • Thyolo-Khonjeni Road
Corridor). • Salima-Nkhotakota Lakeshore Road
• Mzimba-Ezondweni-Njakwa Road
Air Transport • Thabwa-Mkhate-Fatima East Bank Road
• Set Malawi as a Hub: Attract more airlines into Malawi’s • Zomba-Liwonde Road
airports • Salima-Mangochi Road
• Expand the Chileka and Kamuzu International air ports to • Balaka - Chilipa -Mangochi Road
established International standards together with the Airport • Golomoti - Monkeybay Turnoff Road
City. • Chikwawa - Thyolo - Mulanje Road

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The DPP Government will construct the following bypasses:

• Mzuzu West Bypass Road
• Lilongwe Eastern Bypass Road
• Blantyre Ring Bypass Road

One-Stop-Border Posts
• Having developed the Mchinji-Mwami, Mwanza-Zobue
and Dedza-Calomue One-Stop-Border Post, DPP will built
the Songwe-Kasumulu, Muloza-Milanje and Chiponde-
Mandimba One-Stop-Border Posts.

City Roads Modernization

• The DPP will carry out a City Roads Modernization Programme
for Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Zomba and Blantyre cities. In addition,
DPP will continue construction of flyovers and interchanges
to address congestion in the cities and business places. In
addition, the DPP Government will modernize central bus
terminals in the four major cities and two municipalities.

Rural Access Roads

• The DPP Government will continue to construct a
comprehensive network of rural access roads and trunk
roads to serve the remote areas so that agricultural produce
and other commodities can reach the urban markets safely
and efficiently.

Postal Services
• The DPP Government will improve postal and courier services
by ensuring high security to prevent loss or pilferage of mail
and parcels and their timely delivery. We will also finalize the
demarcation of the country for the postal addressing system.

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4.2.3 ENERGY
New electricity connectivity is only at 20% per year. Only
The DPP recognises that industrial and socio-economic 45,000 new connections are made per year, against an average
development of the country depends on access to affordable, demand of 205,000 connections per year.
reliable, sustainable, efficient and modern energy.
We note that 86% of the country’s total energy comes from In this regard, the DPP will:
wood and charcoal. Oil products account for 10% of the energy • Transform the country’s energy economy from one that is
consumed; electricity at 3% and coal just under 1%. Households overly dependent on biomass to one with a high modern
consume most energy in Malawi at 81%, followed by Transport energy component in the energy mix. To this end, our
at 9%, Industry at 8%, while other sectors of commerce and Government will promote use of electricity, liquefied
agriculture use only 2% of total energy in Malawi. petroleum gas (LPG), efficient biomass stoves, biomass
briquetting and other alternative sources of energy for
Malawi’s Transport sector is powered by imported cooking and heating purposes.
Petroleum products, with Petrol contributing 45% of the import • Promote production and use of bio-ethanol and biodiesel
oil bill and Diesel 54%. On the other hand, Liquified Petroleum for blending, cooking and stand-alone use in vehicles but, of
Gas (LPG) consumption is only at 0.08 thousand barrels per day, course, without threatening food security.
against the world average of 57.49 thousand barrels per day. • Promote e-cooking in rural and urban areas by incentivizing
Since 2021, Malawi has failed on importation of petroleum cost reduction of appliances and liquefied petroleum gas
products due to lack of forex exacerbated by mismanagement (LPG).
of the economy, theft and corruption by the MCP administration. • In the spirit of diversifying sources of power generation,
Electricity is the best form of energy as it can be easily ensuring security of power supply, and bringing efficiency
transformed into other forms of energy, such as light, heat or and effectiveness in the power industry, the DPP-led
motion. However in our country, electricity access is very low, Government will collaborate with, and create an enabling
only at 25.9 % in 2024, of which 11.3% of consumers are on environment for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to
ESCOM grid and 14.6% off-grid, including solar and hand-held invest in the power industry using various sources of power
lighting devices. The total installed capacity in Malawi is 581.5 generation such as hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, natural
Megawatts (MW) sourced as follows: Hydro 398.5MW, Thermal gas, coal and co-generation among others.
53.7MW, Solar 102.3MW and Imports 27MW. However, total • Decentralise electricity distribution function in the country
actual electricity delivered averages 380MW, against peak by creating four entities – one in each region of North,
demand of 508MW. It is forecasted that peak demand will be Centre, East and South. These entities will be responsible for
774MW in 2030 and 1,914MW in 2042. connections and maintenance of electricity in the regions.
We will connect 1,000,000 new customers to the Grid in 5
It is worthy noting that 97% of all electricity in Malawi is years.
generated on Shire River, in the Southern Region of the country, • Increase electricity generation to 1,500MW by
and is at the mercy of climate dynamics. Most power is then implementing the following projects:
transmitted on mostly 66 KVA lines across the country, in the • the 300MW Kammwamba Coal-fired Power Plant (to
process losing about 5.4% of the power. diversify our electricity source from water);
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• the 309MW Mpatamanga Hydropower Plant (with dam • Leverage on Community Colleges, among other platforms,
to stabilise generation and regulate flow of Shire River); to build capacity to technicians, artisan, entrepreneurs etc in
• the 261MW Fufu Hydropower Plant (to diversify from all areas of renewable energy technologies and alternative
reliance on Shire River and Southern Region); and energy, taking gender and social issues into consideration.
• the 190MW hydro power plant from Songwe;
• Facilitate Independent Power Producers to generate 4.2.4 ICT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
100MW from Mzimba and Chitipa Wind plants; 41MW
from Bongozi Hydropower plant; 100MW from Gas power Under the DPP, Malawi has to step into a new digital era,
plant; and over 200MW from solar in Nkhatabay, Rumphi, transforming the country into a smart, competitive, innovation-
Karonga, Salima, Dedza, and Mangochi. driven, and inclusive digital economy. Grounded in principles of
• Import 120MW through Interconnectors with Mozambique universal access, ethical technology, and citizen empowerment,
and Zambia, and use the same to sell our extra power to the DPP government will propel Malawi to be ranked among
the Southern Africa Pool Pool. the top 10 African nations in cybersecurity and innovation
• Maintain EGENCO’s 441MW plants, and embark on new readiness.
Hydro Power plants at Wovwe, Nyika, Mbongozi, Thyolo,
Dwambazi, Chasombo and Chizuma. By 2030, the DPP government will:
• Embark on the Malawi – Tanzania Interconnector to trade • Provide access to affordable broadband to over 80% of the
power into the Eastern Africa Power Pool. population. Malawi will be a digitally empowered nation,
• Embark on the Phombeya – Nacala Interconnector to with over 2,500 Public Wi-Fi access zones including markets,
facilitate sale of Malawi’s extra power to the northern part schools, hospitals, and bus depots.
of Mozambique. • Invest in a National Cloud Data Center to host government
• Cut ESCOM’s bureaucracy by re-establishing the Power data, support AI processing, and serve as the foundation for
Market Limited as Single Buyer to facilitate buying and a future AI-powered digital state.
selling of electricity in the country and beyond. • To future-proof our cities, smart infrastructure solutions—
• Upgrade Transmission system to at least 132 KVA as such as AI-assisted traffic control, surveillance, and waste
follows: Eastern Backbone, Western Backbone, Golomoti – management—will be piloted in Lilongwe, Blantyre, and
Monkey Bay, Nkhotakota – Serengeti – Chinyama – Kanyika Mzuzu as part of our “Mzinda Wamzeru” (Smart City) initiative.
line, Lilongwe Loop, Mzimba – Dwangwa line, Phombeya – • Create more than 150,000 digital jobs, and realise 5,000
Liwonde, Kanyika – Chatoloma line, Nkula - Blantyre West tech-enabled small businesses.
– Phalombe – Zomba to 132 KVA line. • Establish a Cybersecurity Academy and build partnerships
• Intensify implementation of the Malawi Rural Electrification with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS),
Program (MAREP) in order to increase access to electricity IBM, and Google for advanced technical training.
to people living in rural growth or trading centres as well • Ensure that every Malawian will have access to a digital ID,
as rural settlements and villages. Lifeline tariffs will be which will be fully interoperable with social services, health
introduced to enable low income households access the records, education, mobile money, and agriculture systems.
electricity. • Ensure that at least 70% of government services will

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be available online and AI-optimized for efficiency and
transparency. The DPP believes that people follow development.
• Roll out a National Artificial Intelligence and Digital Therefore, to reduce urban migration, we need to bring urban
Innovation Policy that aligns with the African Union Digital facilities to the people. The vision for “world-class urban centers
Transformation Strategy and UNESCO AI Ethics guidelines. and tourism hubs with requisite socio-economic amenities for a
• Revise the startup ecosystem policy to allow regulatory high-quality life” is possible.
sandboxes, enable blockchain and cryptocurrency In this regard, the DPP shall:
experimentation, and promote local content monetization • Continue with its flagship programme of Rural Growth
in the digital economy. Centres, by first finishing the ones we started such as like
• Launch AI tools in agriculture, and provide half a million Nambuma, Chitekesa, Ntharire before introducing new
farmers with real-time insights on weather, market prices, centers in the remaining districts.
and soil conditions. • Ensure that there are satellite urban centres in each region
• In health, equip rural clinics with telemedicine systems with fully functional services like primary and secondary
and AI-assisted diagnostics, linking patients to specialists, schools, markets, hospitals, administrative centres, value
speeding up early detection of diseases, and addressing adding centres, police, water, electricity and upgraded all
health worker shortages in underserved areas. weather roads,
• Roll out real-time government dashboards to facilitate open • Deliberately invest in farmgate factories which will grow into
governance, budget transparency, and citizen feedback. value addition centers as we advance the import substitution
• Introduce coding, robotics, and digital citizenship in primary and export drive
school curricula, and AI-focused programmes in secondary • Continue with skills development for young people through
and tertiary institutions. Community Colleges.
• Encourage the ploughing back of local revenues for local
investment through settlement of all land rates and fees to
councils.
• Spread the presence of Government Administration Offices
and Statutory Corporations amongst its major Cities of
Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba.
• Transform Mangochi into a City; and Cape Maclear into a
4.3 URBANISATION Tourist hub
• Review the Local Government Act of 1998 to recognise and
Malawi is one of the fastest urbanizing countries in the accommodate the fast urbanisation.
world with 20% of the population now residing in the urban • Facilitate proper town management and planning
areas of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba. With an annual
urbanisation growth rate above 5%, it is estimated that absolute
urban growth in Malawi will exceed rural growth by the end of
this year 2025.

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4.3.1 TOURISM

Malawi is known as the Warm Heart of Africa due to the

smiles and friendliness of its people. Coupled with the many
Tourism attractions potential, Malawi can be the premier
Tourism Hub for Africa and the World. These attractions include:
(i) Lake Tourism, which comprises of activities carried around
the freshwater lake Malawi and its biodiversity, (ii) Natural
and Wildlife Tourism which includes rejuvenated wildlife and
nature in form of landscapes and areas of natural beauty (iii)
Cultural Tourism comprising of cultural attractions including
monuments, and lastly (iv) the growing MICE (Meeting, Incentive
travel, Conferences and Events) tourism.

The country’s potential for tourism is significant, but its

development is hampered by many challenges. Currently, the
sector contributes 7% to the GDP but has potential to grow to
15% of GDP if its development is prioritized and focused. The
National Planning Commission observes impediments to tourism
developments which include: underdeveloped transportation
infrastructure systems, tourism products, inadequate and
affordable superior accommodation, fast internet connectivity,
low investment, and limited promotions, amongst others.

The DPP government will work to improve transportation,

accommodation, and marketing inorder to attract more visitors
and enhance their experiences, ultimately benefiting the local
economy. We envision a thriving tourism sector that positions
Malawi as Africa’s premier tourist destination. Our goal is to make
tourism accessible, inclusive, and economically empowering
for Malawians while attracting global visitors and investors. We
aim to ensure sustainable development and maximize revenue
generation for national growth.

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4.3.2 CREATION OF SECONDARY CITIES

In this regard, the DPP administration will:
• Make Malawi a Tourism Hub for Africa and the World, through The DPP believes in the development of secondary cities
‘Discover Malawi’ campaigns and urban clusters, as a strategic approach to decentralizing
• Make tourism accessible to Malawi residents by among economic activities and improving living standards of our
others, establishing a subsidised tourism fund for students people. We already started this approach in the period 2014 to
and low-income citizens. 2019 through our flagship program of Rural Growth Centres at
• Promote professionalism and incentivise job creation in the Nambuma in Dowa, Nthalire in Chitipa, Chitekesa in Phalombe,
tourism sector Chapananga in Chikwawa, Mkanda in Mchinji and Neno. These
• Promote investment in Tourism to both local and foreign were supported by construction of modern markets at Nsanje,
investors through Smart Taxation, Public –Private Partnerships Chinakanaka and Mulanje Mission; and stadiums constructed
(PPPs) and developing international markets for Malawi’s in Karonga, Rumphi, Kasungu, Mangochi, Mulanje, Ntcheu and
handcrafts and cultural exposés. Visa system will be reviewed Zomba.
to support the sector.
• Ensure that locals benefit from Tourism through Community- Our focus in the period 2025 to 2030 will be on scaling
First Investment Model and local business prioritisation. up and transforming growth centres into secondary cities.
• Create Tourism hubs in Nkhatabay, Likoma island, Salima These centres will be equipped with quality amenities of life,
and Mangochi inline with the Malawi National Tourism including health facilities, good and affordable housing, early
Investment Masterplan. childhood development centres, primary and secondary school,
• Create a Special Tourism Integrated Development area in the technical college, clean water, bitumised roads, markets, sports
Nankumba Peninsula and the Cape Maclear area. facilities, electricity and internet. By nurturing these secondary
• Intensify Wildlife Conservation in protected areas of Nyika, cities, the DPP government will promote balanced growth and
Vwaza, Kasungu, Lengwe and Mwabvi and sustain Majete, development across the country, and also decongest major
Liwonde and Nkhotakota game reserves. cities.
• Develop and promote Mountain Tourism.
• Develop Tourism Support Infrastructure. Specifically, we will: 4.3.3 LAND, HOUSING AND WATER SERVICES
• Upgrade to bitumen standards roads that lead to tourist
facilities such as Rumphi, Nyika, Chitipa roads. The DPP recognises that land, housing and water services
• Upgrade Chileka and Kamuzu International Airports, build are critical for social and economic development of any country
a New Mzuzu Airport, and upgrade Karonga, Mangochi, including Malawi. However, in Malawi there are several issues
and Salima Airports. affecting progress in provision of these services.
• Introduce fast ferries on Lake Malawi
• Ensure adequate electricity to tourist facilities. 4.3.3.1 LAND
• Operationalise the Malawi Tourism Authority.
• Promote cheap or ferry building in Malawi Land issues are at crisis levels. Malawi is one of the most densely
populated countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with population

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density at 139 people per square kilometer. Yet, land is a key 4.3.3.2 HOUSING
asset for economic growth and development, accounting for
over 40 percent of GDP, national food security, employment, Decent housing is a big challenge in the rural areas where
and export revenue. 82 percent of our people live. However, cities have not been
spared - our country is experiencing rapid urbanization, and these
Malawi faces significant challenges in land administration, are putting pressure for land and housing in cities and leading to
with issues around unclear land tenure, limited documentation, the growth of slums and squatter areas, encroachment, illegal
and land disputes affecting both urban and rural population. developments on public land and various land conflicts. We
Further, 60 percent of land is held under customary tenure, understand that 76 percent of Lilongwe residents, for example,
with limited formal documentation, creating uncertainty live in substandard housing and/or informal settlements, and
and disputes over ownership and boundaries. The following have inadequate access to public services, tenure insecurity,
are key issues in the land sector - land disputes, weak land and inadequate housing.
administration, urban encroachment on agricultural land, rapid
urbanisation and gender inequality in land access. In 2014 we promised to implement policies aimed at
removing impediments and creating more opportunities for
In the coming five years, the DPP has a robust plan of tackling people to acquire their own houses even at the low-income
these issues as follows. levels by subsidizing malata and cement. The program however
met a lot of challenges from the Opposition who kept denying
• Secure inclusive land tenure by strengthening land rights the DPP the opportunity to substantively fund the programme.
for all citizens with specific attention to women and other Despite the opposition, the DPP government managed to
marginalized groups. construct 22,000 houses for widows, child-headed households,
• Digitalize and streamline land registration processes to extreme poor and elderly persons.
eliminate corruption and reduce disputes.
• Implement a fair land taxation system to prevent land From year 2025 to 2030, the DPP Government will:
speculation and encourage productive use
• Enforce responsible land zoning to balance residential, • Continue with the Malata and Cement Subsidy Programme.
commercial, agricultural and industrial needs • Provide low-cost, durable and habitable housing for rent and
• Promote environmental conservation by preventing sale to the citizens of Malawi through the Malawi Housing
deforestation and land degradation Corporation. This will enable the low-income groups to
• Support rural and urban land planning to accommodate acquire their own homes.
population growth and economic expansion. • Construct houses for civil servants and our men and women
• Establish special land courts to handle land disputes in uniform where occupants will pay not more than 20
efficiently percent of their salary until they buy off the house.
• Review and update outdated land policies to align with • Support the poor to access land and tenure security for
modern economic and social realities sustainable economic development.
• Digitalise land and computerize land records, systems and

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processes. • Protect water sources and promote community-led

• Develop and enforce standards and guidelines of buildings. conservation efforts to protect watersheds.
• Establish a National Spatial Data Centre. • Strengthen climate adaptation measures to secure long-
• Partner with, and incentivise private developers to construct term water availability
affordable housing units in urban and rural areas. • Develop and implement strict water regulations to ensure
• integrate rent to own pathways that will enable residents to water quality supply
transition from rental occupancy to full home ownership.
• Establish a National Housing Fund to offer low interest rates 4.4 DECENTRALISATION
mortgages and home loans.
• Implement large scale slum upgrading programmes with The DPP Government will prioritise and enforce
proper infrastructure, sanitation and services. Decentralisation as a major driver for attaining development,
• Enforce eco-friendly building standards, promoting solar reducing poverty and supporting job creation through citizen
energy and rainwater harvesting in new housing projects. engagement and participation at the local level. We will
transfer powers, responsibilities, and resources from the central
4.3.3.3 WATER SERVICES government to district authorities.

Malawi faces significant challenges in providing adequate In order to deliver on Decentralisation commitment,
and reliable water services, despite being a water rich country. our government will address the following challenges that
While 80% of the population has access to improved water have pulled back efforts to fully decentralize power and
sources, rapid population growth and limited infrastructure resources: Limited Financial Resources; Capacity Gaps and
particularly in rural areas, strain the water resources. Poor Weak Institutional Capacity at district level; Weak local political
sanitation and water quality contribute to health issues, structures; Lack of Accountability and Transparency; Inadequate
including waterborne diseases and child mortality. The key issues Legal and Regulatory Frameworks; Poor coordination between
in the water sector include inadequate access, mismatch of levels of government; fragmented Service Delivery; and
water demand and supply, infrastructure challenges, sanitation Underdeveloped Infrastructure.
and hygiene, water quality, governance and management,
financing, environmental degradation, impacts on health, Thus, the DPP administration shall introduce critical
among others. reforms to facilitate sustained financing, financial autonomy,
address capacity gaps, and provide a supportive legal framework
From year 2025 to 2030, the DPP Government will: among other attendant challenges and issues derailing effective
• Invest in large scale water projects including dams, boreholes decentralization.
and access to clean tap water for our people.
• Rehabilitate and maintain existing water infrastructure to In this regard, the DPP government shall:
prevent leakages and shortages
• Ensure fair pricing of water services with subsidies for low- • Increase funding to local councils with each constituency
income households getting at least K5 billion per financial year.
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• Reform the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as a

vehicle of community transformation by depoliticising it and Improvement Support Unit in the Ministry responsible for
taking resources closer to the people; Local Government, for effective project design, supervision,
• Enact legal framework to safeguard implementation of monitoring and evaluation;
CDF and provide guidance and institutional framework for • Reform the city councils with the aim of enhancing autonomy,
operationalisation of expanded CDF. revenue collection and improved delivery of services;
• Expand the scope of the CDF to cover areas such as • Construct high rise mega markets in Blantyre, Lilongwe and
construction of Early Childhood Centres, primary and Mzuzu aimed at improving market conditions and sanitation;
Secondary Schools, Health centres, road grading, irrigation • Designate and capacitate city policing departments to ensure
schemes, construction of police units, construction of solid security for residents, investors and their investments;
markets, water and sanitation facilities, construction of • Promote a culture of transparency and accountability,
secondary schools, skills development centres, and provision especially amongst Controlling Officers;
of bursaries and vocational training. • Establish a city transport system through the creation of a
• Invest in capacity-building, and institutional strengthening public liability company that will operate buses with each
at the local level to enhance governance and service delivery; route having its own colour coding and where taxi and
• Ensure local governments have access to adequate and minibus owners will have shares. The company will use
predictable revenue streams, including local taxes, grants, digital solutions such as Automated Fare Collection (AFC)
and allocations from the national government; and Advanced Public Transport and Management System
• Develop and review clear, transparent, and enforceable laws (APTMS).
and regulations that define the roles and responsibilities of • Ensure there is professionalism amongst staff working in
all levels of government; Local Authorities by ensuring meritorious appointments and
• Establish robust accountability mechanisms, such as audits, promotions
citizen feedback systems, and independent oversight bodies, • Continue to build modern offices for all urban and rural
to ensure that local governments are responsive to their councils
constituencies; • Invest in the training and capacity building of Councilors to
• Ensure inclusivity through involvement of marginalized monitor and manage local development projects
groups in decision-making processes and ensuring that • Reintroduce heavy equipment at the council level like farm
services reach all sectors of the population; tractors and caterpillars in all local councils
• Strengthen communication and coordination between • Revise the allocation formula for resources to councils
central and local governments, as well as between different favouring more investments and less consumption
local agencies, to avoid fragmentation and duplication of
efforts;
• Reform existing service delivery processes through the use of
technology and digitization to make them faster and more
transparent and efficient;
• Introduce Infrastructure Services Unit and Performance

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CHAPTER 5

ENABLERS

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The DPP recognises that Malawi’s development and attainment associated with some of our traditional staple foods (nsima
of 2063 goals are contingent on the success of Enablers ndiye chakudya). Furthermore, tribalism continues to erode the
stipulated in MW63. foundations of meritocracy, as individuals are often appointed
to positions based not on competence, but on regional or
ethnic affiliation - to the detriment of national development. It
5.1 MINDSET CHANGE is commonplace for us to do whatever we can for personal glory
at the expense of national interest and collective responsibility.
Mindset change is the first Enabler under the Malawi (aliyense kuchita zomusangalatsa). As a nation we focus on
2063, which observes that the attainment of our ambitious short term gratification and not long term.
development aspirations will require the cultivation of a new
way of thinking and doing things. Mindset encompasses beliefs, The mindset around population growth needs to change.
attitudes and values about yourself, others and the world With Malawi’s fertility rate at 3.8 percent and an estimated 1,400
around you. Mindset change needs to be inculcated at all levels children born every day, the country is on the course of under-
- individual, community and national - to instill a culture of self- development. It will no longer be “ana ndi chuma.” It means
reliance towards wealth creation goals. a demand of at least 22 new school blocks to be built every
day in the immediate future, just for one example of necessities
The DPP’s analysis has determined that Malawi is trapped of life. The DPP government will thus promote population
in its traditional economy in which money and monetary value management, through among others intensive civic education
have limited place. Traditionally, Malawians define wealth as and family planning.
food, character and children. This definition is revealed in three
proverbs, namely, “kulemera ndi kudya” (being rich is eating), There is a mindset that “mwamuna salira.” This
“khalidwe ndi chuma” (character is wealth) and “ana ndi chuma” misjudgment of the capacity of males to handle pressure
(children are wealth). The DPP supports food security and good manifests itself clearly when it comes to Suicide cases in Malawi.
character as well as reproductive health. However, what stands Statistics show that males represent not less than 80 percent of
out in Malawi is that we have not managed to reconcile the three all suicide cases in Malawi. For example, out of the 153 persons
traditional definitions of wealth with the modern economy in who committed suicide from January to March 2025, 125 were
which prosperity is measured in monetary terms. In the money males. Because amuna salira, males are generally not open to
economy, skills and education are key to prosperity which is sharing or reporting the difficult circumstances they face.
necessary for the growth of children into citizens with good
character. The DPP recognises the importance of the mind in dealing
with long-held customs and beliefs in transforming the nation’s
This mindset has cultivated a sense of entitlement to the development agenda.
property of others - manifesting in a culture of dependency
(Ma biggie) and, at times, the unjust deprivation of widows The DPP therefore places strong emphasis on wealth
from their rightful inheritance. We have grown resistant to creation as the cornerstone of Malawi’s transformation, moving
dietary innovation, despite the well-documented health risks beyond mere poverty alleviation to a deliberate focus on

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building a productive and prosperous nation. We must shift 5.2 RULE OF LAW, GOVERNANCE AND FIGHT AGAINST
from a dependency mindset to one that champions trade, not CORRUPTION
aid, and redefine prosperity in modern economic terms without
discarding the value of our cultural heritage. The rule of law is the bedrock of an enduring constitutional
democratic society where both the governors and the governed
The DPP offers practical and actionable solutions on are equal before the law. MW2063 stipulates that Malawi shall
how mindset change can be achieved across all levels of have effective and efficient governance systems and institutions
society through civic education, reforms in our education with strict adherence to the rule of law.
system, targeted community engagement, and leadership
by example. This transformative agenda is championed by a Institutional weaknesses, including political interference,
proven leader with a track record of turning vision into results, selective application of justice, and financial strangulation of
and who understands the deep connection between mindset, corruption fighting agencies have hindered good governance
productivity, and national development, Prof APM is the leader. and anti-corruption efforts in Malawi in the past four years.
There have been deliberate efforts to undermine governance
The DPP will therefore from September 2025 to 2030: institutions, such as Parliament, Anti-Corruption Bureau,
• Promote visionary and transformational leadership that does Ombudsman, and Malawi Human Rights Commission just to
not accommodate mediocrity and the commercialisation of mention a few, and deliberately orchestrated poor coordination
politics. among these corruption fighting bodies.
• Promote Trade, not Aid.
• Promote population management Further, there has been blatant disregard of the rule
• Inculcate the spirit of Patriotism and Integrity at all levels of of law, whereby institutions mandated to advance good
governance. governance such as the office of the Ombudsman are totally
• Advance religious values by working with religious leaders in disregarded, their determinations completely thrown away,
serving our people. a scenario that does not give hope to Malawians where the
• Instill the value of money in the traditional economy of Government fights its own institutions. There has also been no
wealth and social development. desire to implement innovative ways in fighting corruption. In
• Stimulate the spirit of Hardwork and self reliance by awarding recent times innovations such as instituting lifestyle audits in
well deserving citizens. the country have been rejected at cabinet level, a clear sign of
• Promote positivity by encouraging idea development and not wanting to commit to innovations that can improve the
research. fight against corruption.
• Advocate the diversification of food groups and nutrition to
ensure a healthy population.

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5.2.2 The Malawi Police
5.2. Governance Institutions and their roles
The Malawi Police has a constitutional duty of providing
The DPP believes that governance institutions especially protection and public safety to all persons in Malawi. The DPP
those involved in enforcing the law, promotion and protection shall work towards restoring the independence of the Police in
of human rights, fight against corruption and organised crime discharging its functions so that it wins the confidence of all
need to work in a coherent manner in order to uphold the rule persons in Malawi. The DPP shall ensure that the Malawi Police
of law. serves the interests of Malawians and not those of any grouping,
be it political, tribal or other. Reduction of crime, maintenance
5.2.1 The Office of the Attorney General of public order, safety and protection of all persons in Malawi
shall be insisted upon.
The Attorney General is the principal legal advisor to the
government. Under the Constitution, he is advisor to all the 5.2.3 The Directorate of Public Prosecutions
three arms of Government, although he is more aligned to the
Executive arm of government. The DPP government shall ensure that the Director of
Public Prosecutions discharges his functions evenly without fear
Unfortunately, under the current MCP government, the or favour. The DPP intends to completely eliminate all elements
Attorney Generals’ office has been reduced to pushing a political of selective justice in the operations of the office of the Director
agenda other than serving the State on legal matters. of Public Prosecutions. In this respect, consideration will be
made to pass relevant legislation that frees the Director of Public
The DPP government will initiate a discussion involving the Prosecutions from political interference and to make that office
three arms of government on how to reform the functions and accountable to the people of Malawi. The DPP intends to take
duties of the Office of Attorney General. The DPP government measures that shall promote collaboration and proper interface
will seek to make the Office of Attorney General to be truly that between the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and other law
of advisor to government and not one that reduces itself to enforcement agencies that are charged with the responsibility
pushing the agenda of the ruling party. of prevention and prosecution of crimes.

The DPP believes that it is only when that Office exudes its 5.2.4 The Intelligence Authority (FIA)
independence that it can command respect from all the three
arms of government. Where necessary, the DPP government The DPP considers the FIA as an important agency in
shall pass legislation clearly articulating the parameters of that the fight against white-collar crime as well as an important
office and create deputy Attorneys General who would, each of institution for instilling fiscal and financial discipline in Malawi.
them specifically handle matters specifically relating to each The DPP government will work towards strengthening the work
arm of government. of the FIA in the fight against financial crimes and corruption.
The FIA, as well as the Financial Crimes Division of the High
Court shall be sufficiently funded to ensure that they discharge
their statutory mandates to the satisfaction of the public.

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corruption.
5.2.5 The Malawi Human Rights Commission and the Office • Inculcate a culture of integrity from the grassroots: Increase
of the Ombudsman efforts in educating the young generation in ethics, integrity,
and evils of corruption. Schools and Universities need to
These two institutions play a very pivotal role in have vibrant programmes to teach the youth on the evils of
the promotion and protection of human rights. The DPP corruption.
government shall support the work and activities of the Malawi • Strengthen the capacity of and collaboration among anti-
Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman corruption bodies such as ACB, Financial Intelligence Authority
so that Malawians fully enjoy the rights conferred on them by (FIA), Office of Director of Public Officers Declarations.
the Constitution. Hence, the DPP shall make sufficient provision • Increase technical capacity, funding and staffing levels of
within the national budget to ensure that their activities are not ACB and ensuring that appointments of the ACB Director
suffocated by underfunding. General and officers are based on merit and are free from
political interference. In this vein DPP will review the manner
5.2.6 The Anti-Corruption Bureau of shortlisting of ACB Director General as the current mode
of shortlisting is not free from political interference.
The DPP shall pursue zero tolerance approach towards • Increasing financial and technical capacity of governance
corruption. In 2019, the DPP initiated and passed legislation institutions;
aimed at strengthening the office of the Director General of the • Ensure investigations and prosecution of all corruption cases
Anti-Corruption Bureau in the manner of his/her appointment. that have stalled during the past five years, especially those
The DPP government will continue pursuing that path in order involving state captors.
to fight the scourge of corruption in Malawi. We shall take • Prioritise on recovery of funds from perpetrators of corruption
measures aimed at early detection of corrupt tendencies; timely and financial crimes against the State.
investigation and speedy prosecution of cases of corruption. • Increase funding to the Office of the Auditor General to
Such measures shall include passage of legislation. ensure timely auditing of government institutions and
prompt release of audit reports.
Once in government, the DPP shall promote good governance • Operationalise the Judicial Service and Administration
and the rule of law in the following ways: Act and judicial reforms, by among others the establish
and properly fund the Judicial Service Commission and
• Rollout deliberate systems that will eliminate the opportunity Independent Complaints Commission
of corruption, such as digital management systems in all • Restore the integrity of governance systems and institutions
places of public service delivery to reduce discretion and by ensuring merit based appointment of governance leaders
human interaction. free from political interference;
• Conduct rigorous lifestyle audits, real time audits of critical • Strengthen legal compliance and accountability across
projects and procurement deals as well as ensuring improved government operations
vetting procedures in relation to public contracts; • Capacitate the Office of the Auditor General to facilitate
• Enhance corruption education and preventive measures
as they are cheaper than investigation and prosecution of
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timely audits and release of audit reports. To realise security, social economic development and
• Increase access to legal services to poor Malawians by the Malawi 2063, it is vital to realign the security institutions to
recruiting more government lawyers and increase funding at address contemporary security challenges. The DPP fathoms that
the Legal Aid Bureau.. We will also support establishment of there will be no development without security and no security
Legal Aid Offices in every district council to enhance access without development. Hence, the Malawi security institutions of
to justice. the Malawi Defence Force, Malawi Police Service, Prison Service,
Immigration and the National Intelligence Service must posture
5.2.2 SECURITY to complement the government’s effort to achieve its strategic
objectives for the good of the nation and international strategic
Malawi is facing a complex and volatile security partners. The DPP Government is committed to depoliticize
environment. The National security environment is characterised security institutions, provide adequate uniforms and relevant
by a mix of traditional and non-traditional threats to security, equipment, as well as recruitment of adequate security
inter-alia, violent extremism, human trafficking, environmental personnel.
disasters, pandemics, and local and transnational organised
crime. Furthermore, this increasingly complex security The Malawi Defence Force (MDF)
environment is defined by rapid technological change,
exacerbating challenges to our National Security. The DPP trusts the MDF, a premier institution that was
established by Section 159 of our republican Constitution to
At micro level, there has been an increase in crime rate by promote and protect the territorial integrity and vital interests
10 percent since the year 2020 largely due to increasing poor of Malawi against both external and internal threats. Of late the
economic environment. Breakings and Robberies top the list, MDF has increasingly been handy in civil defense, where they
followed by Rape, Defilement and Murder cases which have support the Malawi Police Service to save life, protect property
increased by an average 15 percent. Mob justice increased as and give confidence to the economic players. However, this
well. This is exacerbated by the country’s low police to population later role is prone to misuse by political interests as MDF’s heavy
rate of 1 to 1,262 against the United Nation’s recommendation handedness can be used to suppress the interests of the same
of 1 to 500. Crimes have inflicted physical, psychological and civilians they are meant to protect. Remarkably, the MDF has
emotional hardships to many people in Malawi. On the other been very instrumental during times of emergencies.
hand, traffic offences have decreased by at least 20 percent due
to overpresence of police officers on the roads. From 2025 to 2030, the DPP government will:

The Democratic Progressive Party realises that these new • Improve the capacity and professional competence MDF’s
challenges require more innovative and coordinated responses Centres of excellence – National Defense College, the MDF
from the Government as well as civil stakeholders for the nation Command and Staff College (MDFCSC) and the Malawi
to excel further. Thus, the DPP’s enduring goal is to provide Armed Forces College (MAFCO) - to enable it respond
credible security apparatuses needed to protect our people, adequately and urgently to the needs of our nation including
economy, infrastructure, territory and ways of life from all major war fighting readiness.
risks that can affect us.
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• Create a Special Forces Unit and capacitate the MDF in Specifically, the DPP government will
human, technical and technological capabilities to effectively • Ensure that the police reforms are implemented substantively
respond to emergencies and disasters. for the MPS to possess modern equipment and policing
• Improve the morale in the army by providing adequate techniques.
training, uniforms, better equipment and support facilities, • Make MPS a public friendly organisation to cultivate people’s
improved service conditions and improved welfare of the trust in their Police Service. The DPP shall enhance an
men and women in uniform. approach to policing in which police officers, citizens and
• Support MDF in local deployments such as in border patrol community groups work together in an accepted partnership
and management in Nsanje, Mulanje, Blantyre, Lilongwe, to solve mutually agreed policing problems.
Mchinji, Likoma, Chitipa and Karonga, among others. • Substantively finance the capacity and operations of the
• Support MDF to effectively assist the Malawi Police Service Independent Complaints Commission (ICC) of Police to
where necessary in ensuring peace and fight crimes as process and solve public complaints against police officers,
guided by the Constitution. with the aim of promoting accountability, professionalism,
• Commercialise specific services and departments of the discipline and respect for the rule of law and human rights
MDF to enable its substantive contribution to the economic in policing functions.
development of the country. • Establish and capacitate specialized units within the Police
• Rehabilitate existing houses and Construct 2000 houses for Service for city policing
staff of the Malawi Defence Force • Support the cities of Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Mangochi, Blantyre
• Construct a top notch Military Hospital that will be equipped and Zomba to have their own police services to meet specific
with modern facilities. security and safety needs.
• Support the MDF’s participation in external deployments • Enhance road traffic safety services with modern surveillance
such as under the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation systems including CCTV cameras. This will include
Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), replacement of on-the-spot traffic fines with electronic
Southern Africa Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and military payment systems, inorder to save time, money and curb
observer missions, and staff officers in various countries. corruption.
• Find and implement alternatives to the use of breatherlysers
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) on the roads.
• Support the specialisation and professionalism of police in
The DPP wishes to support the MPS’ vision of a professional public order management
service for a safe and secure Malawi, through prevention, • Improve the capacity of police to detect, investigate and
detection and investigation of crime; the apprehension and competently prosecute cases
prosecution of offenders; the preservation of law and order; the • Rehabilitate existing houses and Construct 4,500 houses for
protection of life, property, fundamental freedoms and rights staff of the Malawi Police Service
of individuals; and the enforcement of all laws with which the • Enhance regional and international police and law
police are directly charged. enforcement cooperation.

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The Malawi Prison Service

• The NIS shall be well equipped to provide vital and relevant
Malawi’s prisons are overcrowded. Prisons that were information to the security institutions to fulfil their respective
designed to accommodate 10,000 inmates are now holding mandates.
over 15,000 persons. The 23 district prisons are not enough, and
most of them are old structures with the oldest prison Zomba Immigration and Citizenship Services
having been built in 1935. The DPP government will work to
solve the problems of overcrowding, starvation of inmates, and The DPP government will support the department of
deaths that are occurring in prisons. Immigration and Citizenship Services to effectively provide
migration management services, issue relevant travel documents
Specifically, the DPP government will to eligible persons for national security and socio-economic
development. At the moment, Malawi has been rocked with
• Reform the Prison Service to become Correctional Services poor passport services. The Department stopped provision of
that contributes to national development and public services in Mzuzu, Mangochi and Blantyre, the passport being
safety, with focus on rehabilitation of offenders and their issued are of very poor quality and an embarrassment at the
reintegration into the society. international level with some deserving citizens being denied
• Construct new prisons in Phalombe, Salima, Mchinji, Rumphi entry into other countries. Further, many foreigners and other
and Monkey bay. criminals have been issued with Malawi passports, visas and
• Enhance criminal justice reforms, including rehabilitation of permits.
inmates, parole system and non-custodial sentencing.
• Support prisons grow their own food and sell the surplus The DPP Government will, therefore:
• Rehabilitate existing houses and Construct 1,500 houses for
staff of the Malawi Prison Service • Restore the integrity and quality of its passports
• Move Maula, Chichiri and Zomba maximum prisons from • Ensure that only Malawian citizens, and not foreigners,
central business district areas access passport services.
• Reopen Mzuzu, Mangochi and Blantyre passport officers
The National Intelligence Service offer passports and other migration management services
• Add 4 more one-stop-centres where passports and other
• The DPP realises that the National Intelligence Service plays services will be provided to enhance efficiency and reduce
a crucial role in national development by providing vital the cost of accessing passport and visa services.
information and analysis to support informed decision- • Rehabilitate existing houses and Construct 4,500 houses for
making, safeguarding national security, and promoting staff of the Malawi Immigration Services
economic growth and stability.
• The DPP Government will make NIS a national asset that is
non-partisan while maintaining the essential component of
secrecy,
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in the surrounding region and to prevent conflicts and crises

5.2.3 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND THE DIASPORA through diplomacy.
• Build and maintain alliances and partnerships with like-
The hallmark of the DPP Administration’s Foreign Policy minded countries to advance shared interests and objectives.
will be its belief in leadership that is international in ideas, but • Shape international governance and institutions that reflect
local in application. In the next five years, the DPP government Malawi’s values and interests.
will continue to foster international relations that strengthen • Promote and protect human rights, democracy and the rule
Malawi’s drive towards a developmental state by continuing to of law.
embrace development diplomacy. • Provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to
affected populations.
In the next five years; the DPP government will • Protect the environment and promote conservation of natural
Foster gainful trading partnerships which expands the markets resources. This includes addressing climate change matters
for Malawi’s goods and services; and promoting sustainable development that ensures a
• Increase inflows of investment into the Malawi economy; balance between economic, social and environmental
• Secure access to finance and credit from bilateral, multilateral objectives and takes into account needs and interests of
and development partners; future generations.
• Increase inbound tourism for the country’s attractive tourist • Promote structured Government to Government labour
destinations and products; exports in sectors of interest between Malawi and foreign
• Secure access to essential resources, such as energy, water, Governments.
raw materials and essential commodities such as petroleum
products; The DPP will continue advocating for more trade with its
• Deepen educational and cultural exchanges of the Malawi partners and that much of the aid from development partners
people and peoples of other nations; should be allocated primarily for long-term development
• Enhance international collaboration in scientific and projects that are related to the international trade, investment
technological research and development to advance and social interests of Malawi. The DPP Government will actively
knowledge and accelerate understanding, discovery, engage cooperating and development partners in dialogue
innovation and inventions to foster solutions to humanity’s towards mutual goals that include embracing of home-
problems. grown policies, doing away with one-size-fits all economic
and social policy approaches, and adoption of people-centred
Over and above the development diplomacy pillars outlined development practices.
above, the DPP Government will additionally aim to:
We recognizes that Malawi is not an island and its market
• Uphold national security through protecting the country’s alone is too small to attract large scale investments in industrial
sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of citizens from and agriculture production, manufacturing and trade. This is
external threats. why the DPP led government joined the negotiations for the
• Uphold regional stability by maintaining stability and security formation of the 54 member African Continental Free Trade

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Area (AfCFTA) which is now under implementation since 1st Furthermore, the DPP Government will offer tailored
January 2021. The DPP will, therefore, continue to support training for its diplomatic service to enhance the skills and
regional initiatives towards market integration including under aptitude of the personnel in Malawi’s diplomatic service.
COMESA, SADC and the 26-member COMESA-EAC-SADC Government will also develop a proper and professional career
Tripartite FTA in order to create a viable environment for growth path for diplomatic staff.
and development.

The DPP government will maximize Malawi’s comparative

advantages in line with the separate-but-equal principle under Malawians in Diaspora
the Law of Nations. Specifically, the DPP Government will
engage into meaningful people-centered international relations The DPP cherishes the contribution that Malawians living
that translate into Malawi’s ability to export and meaningfully abroad make to our country. In our 2014 campaign messages, we
participate on the international market. Malawi, under DPP will promised to introduce Dual Citizenship. And the DPP delivered
continue to adhere to the Treaty establishing the African Union just that during its 2014 – 2020 rule. The DPP government
(AU) and/or the continental economic cooperation and initiatives; repealed the relevant laws and enacted supportive laws for
We will strengthen Malawi’s progressive participation in regional Dual Citizenship. We promised to ease the establishment and
and international economic integration initiatives and uphold transfer of foreign currency for Malawians earning income
the treaties to which Malawi appended its signature. The DPP outside Malawi.
Government will also continue to review bilateral agreements
between Malawi and other countries with the aim of improving The DPP government changed the system and any
our relations with our cooperating and development partners. Malawian can now operate Foreign Currency Denominated
Accounts (FCDAs) in any of our banks in Malawi. In order to
The DPP Government will also review and rationalize support our citizens living abroad, a Diaspora Unit was set up in
Malawi’s foreign missions abroad, the numbers and quality the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each Embassy now has a Diaspora
of diplomatic staff in each mission, closing those that are desk and is the point of first call for all Malawians in diaspora.
unprofitable to Malawi and opening new ones that can benefit
the country. Going forward, the DPP Government will continue
delivering for Malawians in diaspora, removing hurdles and
To achieve these overarching foreign policy objectives, hindrances that impede and limit them from participating in
the DPP Government will deploy a vibrant and professional their motherland’s economic and social matters.
diplomatic service with the aim of helping Malawi achieve the
development diplomacy pillars and take care of the additional
objectives of Malawi’s foreign policy and enable Malawi benefit
as a member of the community of nations.

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The DPP government shall create a culture and atmosphere

5.4.3 PUBLIC SERVICE PERFORMANCE where accountability and legality shall be the norm and not an
exception. Under the DPP leadership, there shall strict oversight
The Malawi 2063 aspires for a peaceful, patriotic and and supervision of the actions and activities of all institutions,
proud people that believe in their own abilities and are active departments and agencies falling under the Executive in order
participants in building the nation. The public service requires to enforce adherence to the rule of law.
highly performing and professional people to take government
service to the people. The DPP realises overall responsibility of The Judiciary
the public service: it is at the core of service delivery.
The DPP acknowledges the pivotal role played by the
The Legislature Judiciary in nurturing Malawi’s democratic dispensation since
the 1994. The DPP shall jealously guard the role of the Judiciary
The DPP believes that the broad mandate of the Legislature in interpreting and protecting the laws of Malawi and ensuring
is to hold the Executive and other actors to account. The DPP that individual liberties are protected against the coercive
shall ensure that the Legislature performs its constitutional role powers of the State while at the same time encouraging
effectively and shall take measures to discourage the usurpation judicial officers to be accountable to the people of Malawi in
of legislative powers by other organs of the state. After 30 years the discharge of their duties. The DPP reaffirms its belief that
of multi-party democracy, the DPP realises that Parliament the Judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of disputes and an
plays a critical role in promoting unity in diversity that has been important bastion in upholding the rule of law.
brought by political pluralism. The DPP shall, therefore, ensure
that the laws passed by the legislature advance the public good Public Service Performance
and serve the interests of all Malawians without regard to tribe,
race or status of any person in society. The DPP further considers a public service that is built
on principles of: accessibility, accountability, participatory,
The Executive transparent, transformative, committed to equality, in proximity,
just, secure and safe. A well functioning and efficient public
The government shall strive to initiate policies and service that follows set procedure and frameworks would most
legislation that embody and reflect the wishes of Malawians. likely reduce corruption in the provision of service across the
Realising the existence of the pressure on limited resources and public sector and possibly influence the same in private sector.
drawing from its past which experiences, the DPP government The Democratic progressive Party reaffirms its commitment in
shall maintain a lean and inclusive Cabinet supported by both the conceptual and substantive constitutional provisions
an efficient Civil Service which shall be encouraged to be that seek to create a society where legality prevails and each
nonpartisan in the discharge of its official duties and functions. arm of government or state institution discharges its proper
We shall take measures to ensure that there is no arbitrariness legal mandate without interference, intimidation or undue
in government actions in its dealings with the citizens. influence.

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The DPP shall ensure that each of the three arms of • Promote efficiency and cost saving measures by appointing
government, namely, the Executive, the Legislature and the a lean cabinet.
Judiciary perform and discharge their constitutional duties for • Provide medical cover to all active as well as retired civil
the sole purpose of serving the people of Malawi and that in servants.
doing so, each of them acts independently but at the same time • Reduce waiting period for receipt of gratuities.
maintaining a consistent and coherent collaboration among all • Put the right and qualified people in the right positions
state organs, institutions and agencies. in order to promote efficiency and effectiveness in public
service delivery.
The public service remains demotivated despite various • Carry out relevant reforms in the public service to improve
reforms undertaken in the past years. The reforms which the performance in all government ministries, departments and
DPP undertook over six years ago remain the only ones that were agencies
implemented. The recent reforms undertaken by the current • Promote efficiency and effectiveness within the public service
government remain unknown despite a report having been through defined performance appraisals and transparent
submitted to the Presidency. The DPP shall undertake genuine promotions.
reforms and such reforms shall include a comprehensive review • Renovate and construct new government offices to provide
of remuneration in the public service. a conducive working environment and cut on government
recurrent expenditures.
The DPP Government further considers a public service that is • Provide government scholarships to deserving Civil Servants
built on principles of: accessibility, accountability, participation, to upgrade and enhance public service delivery.
transparency, transformation and equality. • Provide regular funding to ministries, departments and
agencies for good service delivery.
From 2025 to 2030 and beyond, the DPP Government will: • Cater for specialized training for civil servants at Malawi
• Provide good service delivery to its citizens so that the civil School of Government and Mpemba Staff training colleges.
service becomes attractive as a service provider and a place
of work.
• Review civil service structure and composition so as to reduce 5.6 PRIVATE SECTOR, INDUSTRY AND TRADE
unnecessary expenditure while improving efficiency.
• Improve remuneration of all civil servants by aligning salaries The DPP believes that a vibrant industry and private sector
to cost of living, following recent waves of devaluation and are sustainable engines for economic growth, job creation,
increased inflation. revenue collection expansion and growing foreign exchange
• Promote all deserving career civil servants whose generation. Currently, industrial and private sector production
opportunities for career advancement have been thwarted is hampered by poor transport system, a compromised
by external forces. standards and quality regime, a skills gap that is unfit for
• Recruit all trained teachers and medical personnel who have industrial revolution, inadequate access and high cost of
completed their professional accreditation process but are finance, impulsive and inconsistent public policy environment,
subjected to unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks. unfavorable taxation regime, intermittent energy supply and a
generally high cost of doing business.
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As a result, manufacturing’s contribution to the • Link graduates of community colleges and other skilled
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is too low (currently at 9.37%) to manpower into Small and Medium Enterprises, cooperatives
make a dent on poverty in Malawi. The DPP aims to increase and large enterprises.
this percentage to 15% in five years, through the creation of • Establish industrial clusters on metal fabrication, wood
a supportive business environment that will induce inclusive products, electronics, garments and textiles, leather products,
industrial and private sector growth, export promotion and oil-seed products and others in townships such as Ndirande,
productive competitiveness. Bangwe, Chirimba, Chilomoni, Machinjiri, Nchesi, Chinsapo,
Area 23, Area 25, Kauma, Area 36, Matawale, Chikanda, 3
Private Sector Development Miles, Mchengautuwa, Luwinga and Karonga.
• Revitalize the one-stop-service centre at the Malawi
In the period 2025 to 2030, the DPP will: Investment and Trace Centre (MITC) which was established
• Work out the supply-side constraints of the Malawi economy by the previous DPP Government and is now on its knees.
to harness the demographic dividend arising from a highly • Revitalize the Malawi Investment Fora to attract bigger
skilled human capital, particularly the youthful population. investors into Malawi and organize Takulandirani Tourism
The DPP will also create a supportive trade-related Expos initiated by the previous DPP Government. Note
infrastructure. that previous Takulandirani Expos resulted in Malawi being
• Revamp the industrial sector driven by a vibrant agro- designated as one of the top 3 must-visit countries in Africa,
processing and mining sectors, supported by competitive a feat Malawi has now lost.
services sectors. • Establish a Government-owned Holding Company to
• Enact enabling laws, promote the use of ICT and innovation, champion the setting up of companies in vital sectors such
skilled human resource in technical positions of ministries, as agro-processing, mining, energy, pharmaceuticals and
departments and agencies who will implement progressive others. This initiative will be funded with not less than K500
public policies that attract potential local and foreign billion.
investors. • Reform the business environment and improve the
macroeconomic fundamentals of the economy. We will bring
Industrialization down inflation to single digits, the policy rate to not more
than 12%, a stable exchange rate and an investor friendly tax
The DPP will address the bottlenecks for both Small and regime.
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises to achieve • Provide adequate security of property rights, and an efficient
inclusivity, as such, the DPP government will: and fair resolution of commercial and labour disputes.
• Crown the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), • Facilitate industrial and value-added mining of rare earth
complete with fully serviced industrial parks at Luwinga metals (tantalum, zircon and nobium) in Kanyika Hills in
in Mzuzu, Magwero in Lilongwe, Chigumula and Matindi Mzimba, Songwe Hills in Phalombe, Makanjira in Mangochi,
in Blantyre to promote production of export goods and Kangankunde in Balaka, ruby at Chimwazulu in Ntcheu,
substitute imports. graphite in Malingunde and rutiles in Kasiya, sodalite and
• Increase investment in the energy sector and rationalize the granite at Ilomba in Chitipa and the reopening of Kayelekera
energy mix. Uranium Mine in Karonga.
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• Capitalize the Malawi Mining Investment Company (MAMICO) are ably produced in industrial cluster centres in Malawi like,
to the tune of not less than K500 billion. furniture and metal products.
• Strengthen and expand the work of Development Finance • Use the available value addition equipment such as the One
Institutions (DFIs) such as Malawi Agricultural and Industrial Village One Product (OVOP) Dhal Processing Equipment to
Investment Corporation (MAIIC) and Export Development add value to pigeon peas for export.
Fund (EDF) so that they fully support start-up and large scale
business ventures and support exports. Trade and Commerce
• Create the Community Credit Fund (CCF) to increase financial
inclusion and access to affordable finance to cater for SMEs The DPP Government will:
and cooperative societies. • Set up special agricultural commodities markets, fully
• Introduce tailor-made financial products in Government- equipped with refrigeration equipment and storage facilities
owned financial institutions such as MAIIC, CCF and EDF for perishable produce. These places include, but are not
to support investments by the working class and “missing limited to Jenda, Lizulu, Tsangano Turn-off, Bvumbwe,
middle” sector of the economy. Khwisa and Salima.
• The DPP Government will also clear-out bottlenecks affecting • Facilitate the expansion of the export markets for Malawian
pensioners’ access to gratuity and pension money as well as goods and services through regional economic integration
developing an economic empowerment strategy aimed at initiatives such SADC FTA, COMESA FTA and the African
propping up indigenous industrialists. Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), bilateral trade
• Mobilise Malawians into savings and credit cooperatives agreements, unilateral market access offers by industrialized
(SACCOs) and facilitate the formation of Community Banks countries like the United States of America, India and China,
and a Cooperative Bank to increase access to finance and the multilateral trading system (World Trade Organization)
provide adequate capital to industries and SMEs. and commodity agreements.
• Strengthen and reform the standards, quality assurance and • Require Malawi’s missions abroad to include securing export
metrology (SQAM) system to enable Malawi products break markets and attracting foreign investors to Malawi in their
through the lucrative domestic and export markets whose performance targets.
standards and quality requirements are stringent. In this • Facilitate the revitalisation of Malawi’s international trade
regard, the DPP Government will establish laboratories in fairs, national agricultural fairs, regional trade fairs, and SME
Mzuzu and Lilongwe and procure a mobile laboratory for use Fairs.
in areas far from the laboratories. • Implement one-stop-border posts (OSBP) at the remaining
• Facilitate participation of Malawian nationals in the economy three (3) border posts that have no infrastructure and have
through implementation of rural and cottage (khonde) not yet migrated to OSBPs. These border posts are Songwe,
industrialization initiatives; business financing schemes; Muloza and Chiponde.
deliberate policy of Government procurement of goods and
services; backward and forward linkages to anchor firms in
value chains and joint ventures. As a matter of policy, the
DPP Government will review the importation of goods that

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5.6 HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT Basic Education

5.6.1 EDUCATION • Implement Free and Compulsory Primary Education as

obligated by the Education Act.
The Malawi 2063 aspires for the knowledge based • Abolish user fees at Primary School including development
economy and that Malawi shall have a globally competitive fees and payment of ID and related fees for Malawi National
and highly motivated human resource. It is acknowledged that Examination Board.
a highly youthful population in Malawi makes its people the • Introduce Preparatory Class in all public primary schools
greatest source of wealth and that developing human capital • Construct new schools, expand and rehabilitate existing
through education, skills and health of the population plays a schools; and Construct additional classroom infrastructure
pivotal role in the transformation of the economy. • Provide WASH facilities and services in Primary schools
including change rooms for girls
The DPP Government prioritized education and skills • Construct Special Needs Education Centres in all Education
development from 2014 to 2019 by allocating the lions’ share Zones
of the national budget. However this share has been reduced • Construct teachers Houses that are disability friendly
to less than 20% the past 5 years. While the DPP implemented especially in rural areas
free primary education, in the next five years, it will provide Free • Scale up school feeding programme to more primary schools
Secondary Education and promote mandatory primary and with a special focus on home grown solutions.
secondary education. The move towards free secondary started • Promote inclusive education by introducing Special Needs
in 2018, when the DPP Government removed tuition fees, Modules in Teacher Training Institutions and by training
general purpose fund and text book revolving fund in secondary more specialist teachers.
schools. Thus the DPP Government will implement the 12 years • Review Primary School curriculum to respond to the country’s
of free education (eight years of primary school plus four years education needs and skills for the 21st Century, ensuring
of secondary school education) by 2030. In this regard, the DPP the incorporation of technical, innovation, creativity,
government will enact laws that will ensure that no child stays entrepreneurship and civic education.
out of school. • Upgrade the entry qualifications for Primary School teachers
by introducing Diplomas. In addition, the DPP Government
Early Childhood Development will institutionalize the continuous professional development
for teachers.
From 2025 to 2030, the DPP government will: • Recruit and deploy more teachers including the backlog
• Train and require all teachers in Early Childhood Development of IPTE 14 to IPTE 18 teachers that are still not absorbed in
Centres (ECDC) to be holders of certificate, diploma or degree the education system. This will reduce the pupil qualified
level. teacher ratios.
• Attach all ECDCs to primary schools • Provide adequate Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs)
• Teachers in ECDC will be receiving salaries from the Local that include textbooks, teachers guide, computer gadgets to
Councils all primary schools including Special Needs TLMs.

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• Introduce more Double shift secondary schools where
• Scale up Tablet based learning in all primary schools. The appropriate
DPP already piloted the same through Unlocking Talent • Expand Open Distance and e- learning in Secondary Schools
Programmes. (Introduce more Open Secondary Schools) and improve their
• Ensure that all primary schools are connected to electricity management and performance
and internet • Rehabilitate all old secondary schools
• Establish Education TV station to compliment the Education • Improve WASH services and facilities in secondary schools
Radio (EBS) including community day secondary schools
• Promote sporting activities including introduction of more • Address barriers to girls’ education and build Girls’ Hostels,
sports programs in primary schools. The DPP Government provide bursaries/cash transfers to girls, and address harmful
will also upgrade and rehabilitate sports infrastructure in all cultural practices
primary schools. • Construct decent teachers’ houses for secondary school
• Ensure that all teachers are well motivated, timely paid, teachers especially in rural areas.
decently housed, and adequately incentivized to perform • Review Secondary Curriculum to respond to the country’s
their duties effectively. In addition the DPP Government will education needs and skills for the 21st Century.
introduce special loans for teachers in the form of a revolving • Introduce Technical Education and Skills Training in more
fund. secondary schools including Community Day Secondary
• Ensure that learning outcomes improve in primary schools Schools.
by enhancing the Inspectorate and advisory services and • Train and recruit more secondary school teachers
ensuring accountability at each level of basic education. • Provide relevant Teaching and Learning Materials for
• Introduce and scale-up Technical and Vocational and digitizing education including for those with special needs.
Entrepreneurial Training in primary schools. • Intensify Inspectorate and advisory services in all secondary
schools
Secondary Education • Ensure that all secondary schools have adequate desks and
that no learner in secondary school sits on the floor.
To increase equitable access to secondary education and Quality, • Ensure that all secondary schools have electricity
the DPP led government will: • Connect all Secondary Schools to the internet
• Provide Free Secondary school education • Construct ICT and Science Laboratories in Community Day
• Review the Education Act to include free and mandatory Secondary Schools
secondary education. • Digitalize secondary education
• Construct new secondary schools across the country targeting • Promote the teaching of Science, Technology and
areas most in need Mathematics (STEM) by among other things expanding
• Expand and upgrade infrastructure in existing Community virtual science laboratories for STEM simulations and
Day Secondary Schools converting them into Conventional Analytical Sciences.
Secondary Schools. (The infrastructure shall include • Remove examination fees for JC and MSCE
classrooms, Science Laboratories, Computer/ICT Laboratories, • Ensure that sports in all secondary schools is promoted by
and Libraries) increasing the number of sports disciplines and upgrading
and rehabilitating sports infrastructure
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Higher Education will be incentivized. This will contribute effectively to high

performing and professional public service.
• Expand infrastructure in all existing Public Universities • Promote Research and Development by ensuring that
including fit for purpose learning spaces, offices and the National Research Fund established under the DPP
accommodation facilities. Government is adequately resourced.
• Ensure that all higher education institutions have state of • The DPP Government will ensure that Programmes offered
the art equipment, relevant to the industry needs, suitable to in Higher Education Institutions are relevant and respond to
facilitate teaching, learning and Research and Development. the needs of the industry and the economy. The DPP will,
• Expand Open, Distance and e-Learning in public and private therefore, ensure that there is close collaboration between
universities higher education institutions and the industry. This move
• Establish the Open University of Malawi will bring a dynamic and vibrant public sector.
• Ensure that all needy students benefit from student loans
and grants. Extend loan provision to Diploma Students and Teacher Education and Development
those on Open Distance and e-Learning
• Complete the construction of Inkosi ya Makhosi Mmbelwa The DPP recognizes that the quality of education is as
University which the DPP Government started constructing good as the quality of teachers. As such the DPP Government
and was abandoned by the MCP Government. will prioritize the training, recruitment and deployment of
• Provide more accommodation in Public Universities through teachers at all levels. Specifically, the DPP government will:
Public Private Partnerships • Ensure that all teacher training institutions operate at full
• Ensure increased access to higher education for students capacity
with special needs. Each public higher education institution • Introduce Diploma and Degrees Programmes for primary
shall have facilities for special needs students including school teachers.
resource centres. • Construct a Special Needs Institute for the training of more
• Ensure that quality and standards are enforced in Higher specialist teachers, and introduce Inclusive Education
Education Institutions Modules in all teachers training institutions.
• Implement Malawi Qualifications Framework • Institutionalize the Continuous Professional Development
• Review the curriculum to ensure that it is industry-based (CPD) Framework for all Teachers.
and responsive to aspirations in the Malawi 2063 and skills • Facilitate export for teachers
required in the next 30 years.
• Strengthen the Registration and Accreditation of public and Community Colleges and Skills Development
private universities
• In order to develop requisite human capacity in Science The DPP prioritized from 2014 to 2019 the establishment
Technology and Innovation, the DPP Government will of technical colleges in all districts and constituencies after
expand business, innovations and technological incubation noticing unemployment and skills gap among the youth in
centres in higher education institutions. In addition, training the country. The programme offered more youth opportunities
of scientists, technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs among the youth to get employed or employ other youths. It is

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sad to note that the current Government has neglected support

towards technical colleges. It is against this background that 5.6.2 HEALTH, NUTRITION, SANITATION AND HYGIENE
the 2025 to 2030 DPP Government will
• Increase support towards TEVET and build more technical The DPP recognizes that the health of the population
colleges covering all constituencies across the country . (physical, mental and social well-being) determines the
• Construct Technical Teachers Training College in order to socioeconomic development of the country. The health of the
provide more competent instructors in the TEVET system nation is a prerequisite to the country’s long-term vision, the
• Facilitate access to business capital in graduating trainees Malawi 2063. We realise that many risk factors which make the
• Provide modern equipment related to teaching and learning population sick or die prematurely, are preventable. The Party
in the modern world will, therefore, work towards reducing and controlling those
• Reduce mismatch between supply and demand for skills risk factors to prevent morbidity and mortality.
on the market by facilitating cooperation between TEVET as
well as technical colleges and the industry Health For All
• Align technical issues to one ministry
We realize that there is growing donor fatigue to sustain
Adult Education some of the gains that have been achieved thus far. Therefore,
the DPP Government will work towards:
An illiterate nation cannot achieve rapid economic • Ensuring that there is focus and increased funding and
growth. Over the past five years, the number of illiterate youth investment on disease prevention
and adults increased while enrolment in literacy was much • Addressing social determinants of health by applying
lower than policy projections. the principle of “Health in all policies” across the wider
government
From 2025 to 2030 and beyond, the DPP Government will ensure • Promoting efficiency in the use of resources in the provision
equitable quality literacy education by ensuring the following: of health care to the citizenry
• Construct more literacy centres to enroll at least 500,000 • Ensuring that the various facilities reduce wastage especially
learners annually in the supply chain
• Recruit more literacy instructors and ensure that all instructors • Ensuring that it is able to identify its citizenry by ensuring
are paid above minimum wages in line with government that all Malawians have a National ID
policy. • Empowering its human resource for health to be skilled and
• Train adult literacy and education personnel in short term/ competent to provide quality service at all levels of health
long term professional course care delivery.
• Fill all vacancies within adult education to improve • Strengthening and integrating “One Health agenda,” linking
performance and coordination Animal health to Human Health and environment health in
• Undertake comprehensive curriculum review for adult prevention and management of diseases. This will be done
literacy and education programmes to ensure the curriculum from community level and formal and informal educational
responds to industry demands. institutions. The DPP recognizes the interplay of these

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areas in prevention and management of diseases such as • Ensure proper disposal of municipal waste
malnutrition, cholera and many other diseases in addition to • Ensure provision of safe and sustainable drinking water,
the prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance sanitation and hygiene in all health facilities

Legislation And Governance Healthy, safe and resilient workplaces for all

The DPP government will: On occupation health, the DPP will

• Review and finalise existing health legislation including the • Implement national policies and action plans on occupational
Public Health Act of 1948 and the Food and Nutrition Bill. safety and health in line with good labour practices
• Finalise the establishment of the Public Health Institute of • Scale up coverage with essential interventions and basic
Malawi (PHIM) occupational health services of all workers for primary
• Effect Central Hospital Autonomy prevention of occupational and work-related diseases and
• Fully decentralize the health system injuries and promote healthier and safer workplaces
• Strengthen the Hospital Ombudsman program • Build workplace resilience to public health emergencies and
• Strengthen the Health Centre Advisory Committees outbreaks of infectious diseases in all economic sectors
• Strengthen primary and secondary healthcare provision • Implement or strengthen Infection Prevention and Control
under the decentralization agenda by allocating pertinent (IPC) in health care facilities through a range of occupational
resources (both human and financial) as well as improve the health and patient safety measures
primary and secondary healthcare infrastructure.
• Establish and strengthen sound relationships with Build healthy, liveable population
development partners, regional and international health
sectors. The DPP government will:
• integrate health into urban planning policies to deliver highly
Health and Climate Change connected, mixed-use and compact neighbourhoods that
are economically and socially viable and that promote active
The DPP realizes the impact of climate change on health. living, sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, healthy diets
From 2025, the DPP government will among other things: and access to essential services
• Ensure deployment of Environmental Officers in all councils • Prioritize active and sustainable mobility as a preferred mode
to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments and assist in of travel in relevant transport, spatial and urban planning
mitigating the impact of disasters in both urban and rural policies
areas of the country • Improve walking and cycling infrastructure for people of all
• Invest in clean energy as part of “Power to Healthcare” in ages and abilities
health facilities. The DPP will provide power to atleast 50% • Create citywide access to safer walking, biking, nature, public
of all health facilities that do not have power spaces and public transport to support mobility, physical
• Ensure implementation of regulations and standards on the activity, recreation, access to services and social interactions,
quality of drinking-water and to reduce the use of energy and resources

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• Improve access to good-quality public and green open spaces

for people of all ages and abilities including accessible and
safe play areas and recreational spaces for children and
young people

Promoting healthy living and preventative care

We will:
• Increase public awareness of health determinants such
as nutrition, diet and exercise, and encourage adoption
of healthier lifestyles to promote well-being through
strengthened and collaborative health promotion activities.
This will done to prevent, reduce and modify the course of
communicable and non-communicable diseases,
• Ensure community involvement in awareness and enforcing
regulations on the Alcohol policy and use of recreational
drugs
• Increase access to mental health services starting at the
community level all the way to tertiary level facilities

Focusing on person-centered care

Further, we will ensure:
• Improve information accessibility and communication to
individuals receiving care and their families

Understanding our population’s health needs

The DPP government will:

• Use international benchmarking to understand gaps and
solutions in health service delivery
• Develop processes and metrics to transparently measure and
regularly report markers of care and need
• increase investment and allocation of resources to Health
research. All District health budgets will be required to
allocate at least 2% of their ORT budgets to research to
inform decision making with evidence

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Authority and other stakeholders to stop drug theft in public
Providing access to healthcare coverage facilities while ensuring quality medicines in all health care
facilities in the country
The DPP government will:
• Introduce health fund and universal health coverage to Health facilities to be constructed
support health financing
• CDF to cover health system provisions such as ambulance All new health facilities to be constructed (especially in
procurement and maintenance of facilities etc rural areas) shall include staff houses supplied with water and
• Strengthen Service Level Agreement with Christian Health electricity .
Association of Malawi, Islamic Health Association of Malawi The DPP government will:
and private sector • Construct community hospitals in high density urban areas
• Through the diaspora policy the DPP government will invite in Blantyre (Chilomoni, Bangwe, Mpemba, Limbe, Ndirande
and encourage doctors, nurses and specialists to return and etc), Lilongwe (Nathenje, Kawale, Area 25, Area 18, Mtsiriza/
invest in Malawi Mtandire, etc), Zomba, and Mzuzu.
• Work towards developing Traditional Medicine from research • Construct new district hospital in Chikwawa and Dowa,
to production • Construct community hospitals in Ntaja, Thekerani,
• Introduce structured health labor export programs with Chapananga, Jenda, Malomo, Chambe, Chitekesa, Nyungwe,
other countries Nthalire, Kameme, Makhuwira, Bwanje, Luchenza, Usisya
• Develop Public Private Partnerships in health service delivery and Bua, (basically community hospitals along the main
initiatives in areas such as Digital Health, Medical Waste roads of the country)
Disposal, Diagnostic Services (Laboratory and Radiology etc), • Construct 229 health centres across the country atleast one
and construction of staff houses in different areas of the in each constituency.
country • Construct 458 houses across the country for health personel.
• Facilitate initiatives that will make Malawi a destination for • Rehabilitate and/or provide ambulance per health centre.
Medical Tourism especially in areas such as • Invest in pertinent medical equipment and accessories
• Cancer diagnosis and treatment including oxygen plants at Zomba Central Hospital, Mangochi
• Production of medicines District Hospital, Kasungu District Hospital and Chikwawa
• Cardiology District Hospital.
• Ophthalmology services • On Medical Tourism and under PPP, build a State of the Art
• Neurosurgery Tertiary Hospital to cover specialized services such as Cancer,
• Orthopedic Services Heart Diseases, Kidney transplants, Orthopedic services, Eye
• Renal and urology services Services (common diseases that force the government and
• And many other specialties our patients seek external medical care)
• Introduce innovation and digital technology in delivery of • Construct Mental Health Units at QECH and KCH to increase
health care access to mental health services
• Improve drug availability at all levels of health care • Establish Emergency Medical Services, Ambulance services
• Strengthen the functions of Pharmacy Medicine Regulatory between Lilongwe and Mzuzu route and Blantyre to Mangochi

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route (possible also to create an SLA with a private service healthcare policy decisions, including resource allocations
provider). and prioritization
• Improve the functioning of the Malawi Blood Transfusion
Service to ensure improved availability and access of blood Partnerships and collaborative working
and blood products
• Train and certify first responders linking with the Red Cross The DPP government will:
Society • The DPP will initiate pilot projects with stakeholders to map
integrated essential care pathways for prioritised services,
Strengthening healthcare workforce to identify the care journey and handoffs between service
providers
The DPP government will: • Develop and document a scalable process to map current
• The DPP will ensure that principles of governance and care pathway value and benefits, to see how we can improve
accountability across our healthcare system are enshrined in our services further through more efficient care delivery and
the operations of public health facilities to overcome siloed collaboration between care providers
working and promote collaboration with clear responsibilities • Strengthen South to South collaboration, research and
• Introduce health labor export and import programs with development
other countries by using our Diaspora policy
• Invest in staff through adequate training and recruitment Preventing wasteful care and promoting efficiency
• Provide housing to health care workers especially in rural
areas – 2 houses at a health post/ 15 houses at a health centre/ • Strengthening and promoting the use of the National ID in
70 houses at a district hospital public healthcare service.
• Invest in appropriate medical equipment (plus its • Ensure implementation of Health care reforms like
maintenance) so that health care service delivery is improved. • Human Resources for Health optimization (emphasizing
on competence, scope of works, service delivery, patient
Harnessing healthcare technology safety and efficient patient referrals). Among other
things, this will entail deployment of Specialists in Family
We will: Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Surgery
• Establish a system-wide vision and integrated digital and Internal Medicine in district hospitals in a phased
healthcare strategy in order to increase efficiencies in health manner
care provision • Integrated health care delivery
• Assemble and provide drone services to assist in supply chain • Construction of Gate-keeping facilities (Urban Community
initiatives Hospitals)
• Develop a system-level dashboard with metrics to measure • Strengthen quality of care at all levels of service delivery
and manage system and population health, with periodic • Identify and quantify system wide opportunities to achieve
public reporting, (the Health Situation Room) better value
• Increased proportion of people with electronic health records • Integrate and streamline the administration and
• Improved utilisation of healthcare data to better guide management of the Government’s health insurance plans
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• Introduce National Health Insurance in Malawi in a stepwise 5.5.3 YOUTH AND SPORTS
manner
• Enforce drug and medical supplies safety, distribution and Malawi’s youth, constituting 70% of the population, are
management. the key drivers of the Malawi 2063. However, the past five years
have seen the government neglecting initiatives that would
Nutrition and Health enable young people to contribute meaningfully to national
development, particularly in areas such as employment,
Food insecurity is becoming a chronic issue. The DPP government economic empowerment, skills development, sports,
will focus therefore on governance, ICT, and social inclusion.
• Social behavior change
• Dietary diversification on foods eg – plantains, bananas, Due to rising poverty and insufficient family support at
sweet potatoes, cassava, sorghum, irish potatoes, to home, as many as 15,000 children have become street kids
form part of the staple foods for Malawi. Increase local especially in the cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba.
production of cooking oil from Sunflower, soya beans The children live on the streets and most of them commit serious
and groundnuts. Malawi needs to stop over-reliance on crimes for survival. As a result, many people in town move in fear
maize for their lives and the safety of their property. Most of these kids
• High cost of farm inputs and consider inputs for the other are school drop-outs and have not completed primary school.
crops other than maize alone The Democratic Progressive Party is committed to reversing this
• Climate change and its impact on food production by sad situation by creating a secure, inclusive, and prosperous
focusing on small ruminants (akalulu, mbira, aquaculture, future for the youth. Our government will empower young
chickens and production of eggs). The DPP government people to become active leaders in shaping their communities
realizes that big animals or livestock such as cattle etc and the nation. To demonstrate the seriousness that the DPP
are not consumed by families but are for prestige. The has on youths, we will amalgamate the current Ministries of
big animals, however, can provide milk to families Youths, Sports and Labour into the Ministry of Labour, Youths,
• Climate change and its impact on health including Sports and Art.
upsurge on some diseases such as cholera, and
schistosomiasis (which may affect the tourism industry) We pledge to undertake the following key initiatives
between 2025 and 2030:
We will include nutrition in social protection initiatives eg
cash transfer and public works so that such initiatives improve Youth Economic Empowerment and Skills Development
the nutrition of people. Further, we will integrate nutrition
in the context of Climate Change, ensuring that women are • Revitalize and expand Community Technical Colleges to
empowered, fruit trees (not just trees) are planted and grown, train youth in market-relevant skills (e.g., agriculture, ICT,
water sources are protected etc manufacturing, and entrepreneurship) and link them to job
and market opportunities.
• Establish a Youth Enterprise Fund which will provide a
revolving K100 million every year to each constituency in

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low-interest loans and grants for young entrepreneurs and
graduates of technical colleges. • Organize competitions in drama, music, and dance to
• Upgrade and modernize technical colleges to align courses identify and develop talent.
with MW2063 and market demands, while providing start- • Provide entrepreneurial skills and start-up loans for artists
up kits and mentorship for graduates. and creatives.
• Develop community tourism centres to drive local tourism,
create employment, and establish youth tourism groups to Governance and Youth Participation
develop attractions in their constituencies.
• Train street kids and other youths that did not complete • Transform the National Youth Council (NYCOM) into a
primary school in practical vocational skills and National Youth Commission with a clear mandate for youth
entrepreneurship for their livelihood. development.
• Engage youth in innovative ways to fight corruption.
Sports Development and Recreation • Integrate citizenship, ethics, and integrity into the school
curriculum to instill accountability from a young age.
• Establish K12 billion Sports Development Fund, from which
every constituency will access K50 million for sports every ICT and Digital Transformation
year.
• Complete the 2 major sports projects (The Griffin Saenda • Invest in satellite technology to improve internet connectivity
Sports Complex and Malawi Aquatic Centre) in rural areas, ensuring universal access to the internet by
• Establish youth centres in all districts, equipped with sports 2030.
and recreational facilities, libraries, and ICT centres. • Revive tele-centres to boost ICT access, training, and AI-
• Continue the development of district stadiums and complete driven entrepreneurship.
international stadiums in Blantyre and Mzuzu. • Reduce taxes on ICT equipment to make technology more
• Invest in sports academies managed by sports legends to affordable.
enhance talent identification and administration. • Provide funding and mentorship for youth-led tech
• Introduce a dedicated national budget vote for football and innovations in agriculture, health, and business.
netball.
• Complete the construction of Bullets and Wanderers Health, Well-being, and Social Protection
stadiums.
• Revise the Sports Policy to incentivize companies supporting • Launch a nationwide campaign against drug and substance
sports development. abuse and enforce strict regulations on illegal drugs.
• Resume primary and secondary school sports programs to • Increase funding for youth-friendly health services, including
nurture young talent. mental health programs.
• Implement comprehensive sexual and reproductive health
Creative Arts and Innovation education in schools.
• Expand access to clean water and decentralize water
• Protect creative works through patents and copyright laws. management to district councils.

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appreciate the important role that women in Malawi play in

Youth Inclusion in Governance and Decision-Making the development of the nation, while realizing the challenges
that women face stemming from gender inequalities including
• Amend the Local Government Act to mandate at least two limited access to education, healthcare, financial capital and
youth representatives (one male, one female) in every District political/social participation. The DPP reaffirms its commitment
and Ward Development Committee. to women’s empowerment as a fundamental human right and
• Introduce mechanisms for youth participation in local a requirement for Malawi’s economic progress.
government budgets.
• Establish Youth Advisory Councils at district levels to provide From 2025 to 2030 the DPP, shall therefore, in support
input on local development plans. of Malawi’s 2063 agenda enhance implementation of its robust
policies that promote the empowerment of women in Malawi
Protection and Support for Vulnerable Youth as follows:
• Protect youth with albinism through community-based • Increase the participation of Women in Politics, cabinet
security mechanisms and awareness campaigns. positions and decision-making ranks in alignment with the
• Provide free sun protection creams and sunglasses for young 50-50 campaign and international agreements on gender
people with albinism. equality.
• Harmonise and enforce Gender-Related Laws including the
The DPP believes that Malawi’s youth are leaders of today establishment of the Women Economic Empowerment
and must be actively involved in shaping the future. Through Fund to accelerate the implementation of the 40:60 quota
these commitments, our government will ensure that young representation as provided in the Gender Equality Act of
people are empowered, valued, and equipped to contribute 2013.
meaningfully to national development. Together, we will build • Establish and capitalise Women’s Economic Empowerment
a better, safer, and more prosperous Malawi for all. initiative and entrepreneurship development at constituency
level to a tune of MK 100 Million.
• Review, implement and monitor policies that will rigorously
5.5.4 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER enforce the National Strategy for Ending Child Marriage
and the National Plan of Action to Combat Gender-Based
Malawi’s Agenda 2063 prioritizes the empowerment of Violence.
women and girls through ensuring equal access to opportunities, • Continue building more hostels for girls to improve their
resources, and services. The agenda aims to promote inclusive and access to education.
sustainable development, with a focus on empowering women • In collaboration with development partners and NGOs,
and girls to participate fully in economic, social, and political improve women and girls’ access to clean water and
aspects of development. The DPP government recognizes sanitation.
that a genuinely equitable society is built on the strength and
potential of all its members regardless of gender. We know and

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5.5.5 DISADVANTAGED PERSONS, THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
• Foster partnerships and collaboration between the
government, civil society, and the private sector to support
The Malawi 2063 aspires for the knowledge based
efforts to end child marriages and promote gender equality.
economy and that Malawi shall have a globally competitive and
• Review and strengthen Legal and Policy Framework on
highly motivated human resource. It is acknowledged that in
Women’s Empowerment to ensure it is all-encompassing
order to have an inclusive wealthy and self-reliant industrialized
in its effort to integrate women in the development and
middle income by 2063, we cannot neglect the elderly and
implementation of all Government policies, plans and
people with special needs.
systems.
• Implement robust social protection systems, which made
Many elderly people have been treated unfairly, and at
significant strides under the DPP-led government, benefitting
times been accused of witchcraft arbitrarily. Between 2020 and
over 1.5 million individuals through various programs. The
2025, an estimated 160 elderly women have been killed on
social cash transfer program registered high levels of success,
suspicion of witchcraft.
with 73% of beneficiaries being female-headed households.
• Continue creating an enabling environment for rural women
Many infrastructures in the country such as buildings,
to engage in economic activities, such as trans-border trade,
roads and modes of transport do not take into account the needs
agri-business, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
of persons with disabilities. People with special needs and the
• Ensure effective implementation and monitoring of social
elderly need to be united with everybody and become active
protection programs, including the allocation of sufficient
participants of society. They need social protection so that they
resources and the use of technology to improve efficiency.
do not become marginalised and vulnerable.
• Invest in Capacity-building and training of women. We will
increase the enrollment and women’s access to vocational
The UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability
training and skills development programs in order to promote
recognizes guiding principles on respect, non-discrimination,
women’s participation in the work force and earn a decent
full and effective participation, respect for difference equality
living.
and opportunity. Suicide cases in Malawi are on the rise, in fact
• Promote agricultural productivity and commercialization
they have reached an outbreak stage. For example 153 persons
efforts of women. We will ensure that women have equal
committed suicide in the first quarter of 2025 alone, 80 percent
access to resources, land, markets, and technologies to
of the cases being committed by males. Making it worse, was
enhance their participation in agricultural development.
the law that criminalised suicides in Malawi, in the process
• Promote a Mindset that values women’s participation in
discouraging people from reaching out for support.
decision-making and leadership positions.
The number of street kids in our cities is increasing,
• Make deliberate and specific programs to eliminate the
largely due to rising poverty and insufficient family support
vulnerability of women and the girl child to the impact
at home. Most of these children have not completed primary
of climate change (natural disasters) such as floods and
school education and are unemployable. As a result, they turn
cyclones.
to criminality for their survival, and once caught they are beaten
and even killed.

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• Implement recommendation in the protection of people

The DPP government believes that equal participation living with albinism policy
will help promote the economy. It will do away with countless • Adopt accessible selection process at local, regional and
challenges the elderly, people with disability and albinism, national level of political office and ensure reasonable
orphans and street kids face. adjustments for candidates with disabilities.
• Train street kids in vocational skills and entrepreneurship.
From 2025 to 2030, DPP will: • Move street kids and accommodate them in care homes.
• Provide substantial funding to Disability Trust Fund and 5.6 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DISASTER RISK
Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) to ensure that MANAGEMENT
they perform optimally in implementing and coordinating
disability-related programmes Climate change and environmental degradation are
• Support single old persons who do not have home-support no longer distant threats; they are present realities that affect
systems with accommodation in old people’s homes. We will every aspect of our lives such as our health, our economies, our
use funds from the district council allocation for this. communities, and our natural ecosystems. The air we breathe,
• Step up efforts to provide medical facilities, clothing, food the water we drink, and the land that sustains us are under
and housing for the elderly and disadvantaged persons. threat, not only from the forces of nature but also from the
• Facilitate speedy processing of pensions and gratuity for consequences of human activity.
retired civil servants
• Re-introduce Public works program 5.6.1 CLIMATE CHANGE
• Promote user-friendly buildings and other facilities for easy
access by the elderly, disability and people with albinism Climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels,
• Provide HIV and AIDS support services to infected and deforestation, and unsustainable practices, is causing
affected people temperatures to rise at an unprecedented rate. This is triggering
• Remove taxes on importation of assistive devices to facilitate extreme weather events. These include frequent and severe
expanded provision of assistive devices to the most vulnerable floods, cyclones, droughts, wildfires, among others. These
• Ensure that vocational colleges and institutions for persons events threaten lives, devastate economies, and displace people,
with disabilities are well funded and operational at all times particularly the most vulnerable communities who contribute
• Support the functioning of the National Coordination the least to the problem.
Committee on Disability Issues
• Review TVET policy and other related policies The DPP recognizes the major climate and environmental
• Work in partnership with relevant local, regional and challenges; which are Climate change and global warming;
international organisations and Civil Society biodiversity loss; resource depletion; pollution; environmental
• Enforce regulation of gaming. justice and equity, policy governance, technological and
• Ensure that disadvantaged persons have same access to scientific barriers, financing and investment; natural disasters
justice and extreme events, and global population growth.

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Therefore, in our commitment to a sustainable future • Ensure curriculum review to introduce environment and
where the planet’s health is preserved for generations to come, climate change subjects
the Democratic Progressive Party stands firm in its belief that a • Support and strengthen association and/or grouping
clean, green, and prosperous economy is not only possible but responsible for environmental and climate change awareness
essential. or journalism
Together, we will take bold, decisive action to protect the
environment, reduce climate change impacts, and contribute
to the creation of a more just and sustainable world. 5.7.2 DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

Specifically, the DPP government shall: Malawi faces a number of disasters, both natural and
• Promote, invest and intensify afforestation and reforestation human-made. These include floods, drought, stormy rains,
programmes strong winds, hailstorms, landslides, earthquakes, pest
• Invest in biodiversity and ecosystem protection infestations, disease outbreaks, fire and accidents. The intensity
• Invest in clean and renewable energy sources and frequency of disasters has been increasing, in light of climate
• Implement carbon/emissions trading system change, population growth, urbanization and environmental
• Promote sustainable resource management such as degradation.
sustainable agriculture, sustainable water and land use
practices; For instance, floods and drought continue to increase
• Promote circular economy to reduce waste in frequency and intensity. Cyclone Idai in March/May 2019,
• Eliminate single use plastics affected 868,900 people, with 86,980 people displaced and in
• Implement air, water and chemical pollution control need of immediate help. Of the total number of the displaced
strategies; people, 45,000 were women.
• Develop stringent pollution regulations
• Facilitate investments in green infrastructure, including The country was also hit by tropical cyclone Freddy in
parks, green roofs, and energy-efficient buildings. March, 2023. This was the most severe cyclone recorded in
• Ensure new urban development’s follow sustainable design southern Africa and Malawi. It triggered 1.4 million internal
principles, that inculcates green infrastructure. displacements across six countries and territories in south-
• Develop, implement and enforce stronger environmental eastern Africa, twice as many as Cyclone Idai in 2019. More
regulations than 659,000 were recorded in Malawi, the highest figure since
• Promote climate smart agriculture to build resilience disaster displacement data became available for the country
• Enforce stringent waste management regulations since 2009.
• Make available adequate financial and human resources for
forest conservation and management Roads, bridges and power supplies in the predominantly
• Aggressively promote national tree planting programme rural areas were extensively damaged, hindering the delivery of
across the country food and other types of assistance to remote communities. The
cyclone contributed to worsening food insecurity.

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Worse still, Malawi was then recovering from the impacts • Operationalize the Disaster Risk Management Fund;
of cyclone Ana and Gombe in 2022. • Embark on extensive integration of DRR in Agriculture,
Education, Health, Transport and Infrastructure, Housing,
Just like floods, drought is a recurrent hazard in Malawi. It Urban Planning and Development, and Tourism;
has contributed to severe food crises such as those experienced • Designate National Disaster Resilience Month;
in 2005, 2012, and 2016/2017 which was in part due to El-nino. • Reorganize the local government disaster risk reduction
The 2016/2017 drought left approximately 6 million people in structures;
need of food assistance in the country. • Aggressively build community resilience to disasters
In essence, disasters disrupt people’s livelihoods, • Prioritize mitigation programmes on climate change impacts;
endanger human lives, negatively impact food security, • Foster effective environmental management
damage infrastructure and hinder socio-economic growth • Enhance the military capacity (human, technical and
and development. Disasters also increase the poverty of rural technological capabilities) in disaster response and recovery;
and urban households and erode the ability of the national • Create public awareness at all levels of society;
economy to invest in key social sectors which are important for • Review curriculum to integrate disaster and disaster
the creation of wealth. management;
• Build capacity in effective Early Warning Systems;
The key issues that exacerbate disasters in Malawi include • Construct appropriate evacuation centers in disaster prone
climate change and extreme weather conditions; limited Early areas;
Warning Systems; weak disaster preparedness and response
capacity; inadequate infrastructure and resources; high poverty
and vulnerability; ineffective coordination and capacity among 5.7 NON-STATE ACTORS: MEDIA, CIVIL SOCIETY & RELIGIOUS
stakeholders; limited financial resources and funding for ORGANISATIONS
disaster risk management; deforestation and environmental
degradation; strained health systems during disasters; weak The Malawi 2063 aspires to create an inclusive, self-reliant,
integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in development and industrialized middle-income nation by 2063. It further
planning; and over-reliance on external aid. envisions a united, peaceful, and proud people, supported by
strong governance, transformation, and reforms.
It is, therefore, important to address disaster risks for
meaningful socio-economic development of the country, Recognizing the vital role of the media, civil society
through urgent reform in disaster governance and coordination organizations (CSOs), and religious institutions in nation-
system, among others. building, the Democratic Progressive Party acknowledges
their contributions in shaping public opinion, disseminating
In this regard, the DPP government will: information, monitoring governance, and fostering values of
• Prioritize reforms of disaster risk management governance hard work and unity among Malawians.
structures;
• Establish a dedicated National Disaster Risk Management
Authority;
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The DPP firmly upholds freedom of expression as Chitonga and Chingoni; Mangochi to broadcast in Chiyao;
fundamental to democracy, ensuring the free flow of Mulanje to broadcast in Chilomwe and Nsanje to broadcast
information, accountability, and transparency. Between 2014 in Chisena. The stations shall promote indigenous content
and 2020, the DPP government demonstrated this commitment and languages.
by developing and passing the Access to Information Bill in 2017. • Creating a children’s radio station (using the Content
The party believes in press freedom, with no arrests of media Creators Fund). The DPP believes in socialising children into
personnel, and allows media houses to operate professionally productive citizens who will carry the country into prosperity
without interference. beyond 2063.
• Upholding political rights by ensuring all organizations
Furthermore, the DPP government recognizes the role participate fully in political, economic, social, and cultural
of religious institutions in shaping moral values and national processes.
transformation, while civil society remains a key player in • Collaborating with religious institutions to instill patriotism,
ensuring government accountability. hard work, and integrity in society.
• Ensuring clergy representation in key policy making decisions.
From 2025 to 2030, the DPP will continue fostering a free, • Providing civic space for CSOs to advocate for human rights
democratic, and progressive Malawi by. and good governance.
• Operationalising the Access to Information Law Opening up • Engaging CSOs and NGOs in national development initiatives.
media houses that were closed on political reasons • Partnering with non-state actors to review policies affecting
• Reforming the Malawi Communications Regulatory CSOs, the media, and religious organizations.
Authority (MACRA) and relocating its Head Quarters back to
Blantyre.
• Ensuring media freedom by allowing independent
operation without government control, censorship, or undue
interference.
• Protecting media rights to communicate information, ideas,
and opinions freely across print, radio, television, and digital
platforms.
• Reorganising the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) by
exploring a new funding model from the Content Creators
Fund
• With Content Creators Fund, removing advertising from the
station to allow private stations to benefit from the market
without competition from a publicly funded broadcaster.
• Creating metro stations (using the Content Creators Fund)
in the following areas: Mzuzu to broadcast in Chitumbuka,

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5.8 CREATIVE ARTS • Introduce postgraduate programmes in creative writing

to develop writers that can compete on the international
The DPP acknowledges that creative arts can be monetised market.
into a significant ratio of the national economy. The DPP • Review Copyright Law to enable content creators to benefit
also understands creative arts as an act of writing fiction and from their work both within and without Malawi.
non-fiction; writing songs, arranging music, recording music;
performance of music, poetry, drama, opera, choral works and
dance; painting, sculpturing, graphic arts, photography, fashion
and design, crafts, architecture, films, television. The DPP shall
do the following to promote and monetise creative arts in
Malawi:

• Negotiate with TickTock, YouTube, Instagram platforms and

affiliate marketing networks to reward Malawian content
creators in monetary terms.
• Create a National Content Creator Fund for the promotion of
indigenous content.
• Establish a modern film production studio. The studio shall
run on Public-Private Partnership while serving as a learning
centre for students of Film Production Studies. In addition,
the studio will also offer per hour employment to students.
• Establish a modern music recording and mastering studio
at Malawi University of Science and Technology on Public-
Private Partnership while serving as a learning centre for
students of music. In addition, the studio will offer per hour
employment to students.
• Identify a private partner and renovate Blantyre Cultural
Centre to be run as a Private-Public Partnership.
• Identify a private partner for the construction of a suitable
venue for creative arts performances in Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
• Create public-private partnerships to construct venues
suitable for creative arts performances at district and town
councils.

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CHAPTER 6

A CALL TO
MALAWIANS
AND PARTNERS

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To you the STUDENTS, we know your struggles and what should

We make this earnest call to OUR FELLOW MALAWIANS, be done to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment.
that voting for the mighty DPP on 16 September 2025 will be the The DPP is set to work with you in addressing your challenges
best decision for Mother Malawi. The DPP has an unparalleled and concerns.
track record in economic management and understands the
economy of this country very well. The DPP will therefore be Finally, to the CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS, Activists among
able to implement measures that will reverse the crisis that the others, we are pledging a conducive civic space. We will create
country has become due to incompetence. By voting for the an environment, free from impediments, allowing Malawians
DPP, you will be saving Malawi from destruction. to enjoy their freedoms and birthrights. We will not restrict
demonstrations as we are experiencing now.
To the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERS, BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS WE THEREFORE CALL UPON ALL THOSE with voting rights to
among others, we assure you of a consistent and trustworthy cast that decisive vote for the mighty Democratic Progressive
administration that you can transact business with; a government Party, with its leader, His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter
that will negotiate in good faith and respect its commitments. Mutharika.

To our colleagues in the MEDIA, we call on you to partner with

the DPP as we form a government that will reinstate press
freedom; a government in which none of you will be intimidated,
arrested or harassed for exercising your freedom of expression.
We have a record of our performance in this area.

To the RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, we would like to assure you that

the DPP will foster a productive and respectable partnership
between the religious community and government. We are
bringing a government that will work with you as we both serve
the same people, Malawians, as faithfuls and citizens. VOTING FOR THE DPP AND ITS LEADERSHIP, IS A SURE WAY OF
PUTTING MALAWI ON A POSITIVE TRAJECTORY TO SUCCESS.
To the PUBLIC SERVANTS, we recognize you as the life and THE DPP PROMISES WHAT IT DELIVERS. THE DPP DELIVERS
blood of any government. We recognize your commitment in WHAT IT PROMISES.
serving Mother Malawi. We have been together, and we know
how committed you are, we know your sacrifices to this country. VOTE FOR THE DPP! BOMA LA A PETER!
The incoming DPP administration will recognize you for your APM WOYEEE! DPP WOYEEEE! MALAWI WOYEEEE!
commitment and sacrifice.

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