By Edwin Mauluka

The new Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government must “grab the bull by the horns” as it confronts Malawi’s deepening economic crisis, opposition lawmakers have warned.

Machinga Likwenu MP Tulinje Muluzi said the country can no longer afford half measures and must pursue accountability, transparency, and inclusive growth.

“A country in crisis cannot afford hesitation. We must chart a path of accountability, transparency, and inclusive growth for every Malawian,” the United Democratic Front lawmaker said in his response to the Mid-Year Budget.

Muluzi urged the government not to repeat the mistakes of the former Malawi Congress Party administration.

“The previous administration’s legacy demands a new path. Audit the MWK28 trillion spent, fast track corruption cases, and strengthen the ACB and the judiciary,” he said, adding that underfunded oversight institutions cannot win the fight against corruption.

He backed proposals to audit the civil service and remove ghost workers, noting that a wage bill consuming more than half of the national budget is unsustainable. He also called for broader tax reforms, including widening the tax base, removing exemptions for the wealthy, tackling evasion, and combating illicit financial flows.

Independent Rumphi East MP Sithandiwe Chapinduka Kondowe accused the former MCP government of failing to take responsibility for the country’s economic decline. She urged the opposition to focus on people-centred alternatives that spur growth.

She welcomed the finance minister’s emphasis on austerity, saying it is necessary to stabilize the economy.

“The IMF program and donor support are crucial to addressing forex shortages and inflation. This budget reflects Malawi’s difficult fiscal reality and tries to balance social and economic needs,” she said.

Mwanza Central MP Felix Njawala said the budget contains areas that require caution, especially the doubling of Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) beneficiaries, which he warned could create new fiscal pressures. He also cautioned against adopting tax measures that could suffocate recovery.

Although he supported the temporary freeze on hiring, he warned that mass redeployments could disrupt public institutions.

The UTM party member also urged the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene in farm input prices, noting that many people cannot afford the current cost of seeds.

“It is time for the ministry to empower our research departments to produce affordable seed so they can compete with commercial seed manufacturers,” Njawala said.

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