Chancellor College political scientist Blessings Chinsinga says there is a possibility of Malawi failing to achieve some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Chinsinga said this during the 2013 Social Science Conference at the Great Hall in Zomba, when he made a presentation on Malawi’s socioeconomic achievements and challenges 49 years since attaining independence.
The conference was organised by the Faculty of Social Science at Chancellor College in a bid to disseminate social science research that helps to assess the socioeconomic challenges and achievements, politics, governance and service delivery, and health.
He said as it gears to celebrate the 50th Anniversary next year, Malawi lags behind in areas of social and economic development.
Said Chinsinga: “A review of our development experiences since 1964 shows failure to deal with poverty. It remains widespread, deep rooted and severe to the 80 percent of the population.
“An analysis shows that the gap between the poor and the rich has widened instead of [narrowing].”
He described the development as not satisfactory, arguing that there has to be all segments of society participating in the economic growth processes to benefit everybody as compared to a small proportion of Malawians.
Adds Chinsinga: “The Malawi of today is worse-off than that of the 1970s and 80s. I am worried because we will not be able to achieve MDG number one which talks about eradication of extreme hunger and poverty.”
Chinsinga said for the past seven years, the country has been hitting international headlines for implementing a Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp), which has been widely considered a success
But in a recent assessment, he said, it indicates that the country is unlikely going to achieve MDG number one by 2015.
