Spot the difference: a comparison of presidents and governments' performance since 1999 in Malawi

The performance of all governments is constantly being reviewed, reported on and rated on various fronts, including sectoral growth, overall gross domestic product (GDP) growth, inflation, exchange and interest rate movements, provision of health and education services, social security, and improved water supply, among others. Using survey data this bulletin seeks to present the views of the Malawian people on these topics.

The paper provides findings such as:

• The proportion of people saying that various groups of officials are never involved in corruption is only slightly higher in 2008 than in 2003 for the OPC, tax administrators and judiciary, but the differences are small and not statistically significant. There is therefore no strong evidence to conclude that the current government’s high ratings for the fights against crime and corruption in 2008 are based on lived experience
  
  
• Food security is the next closest issue for the two governments: the margin between the highest scores for each government is just 14 percentage points. This is significant in that the Mutharika government considers food security to be one of its priorities and an area of achievement that sets it apart from the previous government
  
  
• For both Muluzi’s and Mutharika’s governments, performance ratings for economic management issues are generally much lower than those for social issues, although the high positive ratings for economic management in 2008 are a big plus for the current government
  
  
• While people may be seeing improvements in aggregate macroeconomic management, the big picture is still not necessarily putting food on the table, paraffin in the lamp, matches in the kitchen, salt on the vegetables, and sugar in the porridge.

The paper provides the following conclusions:

• Presidential and government performance ratings generally reflect some regional sympathies, although in the most recent survey, President Mutharika seems to overcome these differences
  
  
• Clearly, his government is seen to be performing much more effectively than that of his predecessor. The provision of water earned the Muluzi government high marks – higher than the Mutharika government
  
  
• But on all other issues, the Mutharika government earns higher marks for its performance.