Malawi Elections :No time wasters after May 19, says MCCI

As the race to the State House hots up in the run up to the May 19 elections businesses have given presidential candidates some food for thought on their expectations for the next government if businesses are to thrive.
The business community has made it clear it does not want any time wasters saying Malawi is in a hurry to develop and, therefore, can not afford to waste any precious time.
The business community argued on Tuesday and Wednesday that who ever will carry the day on May 19 should ensure that priority is given to the improvement of the business environment by strengthening regulations of doing business in Malawi.
The race for presidency is among President Bingu wa Mutharika of the DPP, MCP's John Tembo, Republican Party's Stanley Masauli, People's Transformation Party's Kamuzu Chibambo, Aford's Dindi Gowa Nyasulu, New Rainbow Coalition's Loveness Gondwe and independent candidate James Nyondo. Bookmakers say Mutharika and Tembo stand a 'real' chance of claiming victory, with recent opinion polls pegging Mutharika ahead of Tembo.
"There are a number of critical issues that need to be addressed by the next government," said Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Harrison Kalua. "Whoever wins the elections should know that the business community is pregnant with expectations as we remain behind in as far as ease of doing business is concerned".
Despite some reforms taking place to improve the business climate, Malawi has continued to nose-dive on the World Bank Doing Business Index, which measures a set of regulations affecting 10 stages of a business's life.
Malawi fell from 110 to 127 on the 2008 report before slipping a further seven places to 134 on the 2009 blue print.
"Malawi has 10 procedures to start a business compared to 1 in New Zealand and 13 in Swaziland. It takes 39 days to start a business in Malawi compared to 18 in Zambia. Registering a property takes 88 days in Malawi and 11 days in Botswana. "
Kalua said there is great need for whoever forms the next government to continue with the reforms aimed at improving the business climate which started over the past three years.
"There is a significant missing link in our economy in that we have a very big lower class on one side and a relatively smaller upper class on the other. "
"We need to develop a crop of entrepreneurs. For this to happen we need very good policies and political will. We need to look at issues of access to capital. Here the Malawi Development Fund becomes very critical. We also need to address the issue of capacity building. Look at countries like South Africa, they have a vibrant private sector because they have a good middle class," said Kalua.
He added that there was need for the next president to ensure that transport costs are greatly reduced by, among other things, operationalising the Nacala Corridor and paying increased attention to the Shire Zambezi Waterway.
Indigenous Businesses Association of Malawi (Ibam) president Mike Mlombwa said the next government should concentrate on empowering indigenous businesses to help them effectively participate in developing the economy.
Mlombwa said time had come for locals to take a leading role in controlling the economy, and not just leaving it to foreigners.
"I think the current government putting in place deliberate policies to ensure that indigenous people are empowered and we may wish to give it another term. We also want a 51:49 investment policy where locals will own 51 percent with foreign investors owning 49 percent in any new venture coming into Malawi," said Mlombwa.
The Malawi Economic Justice Network in its people's manifesto says it wants the next government to expand employment opportunities by encouraging self employment by facilitating access to capital and promoting skills development and ensuring that the number of women and the youth in employment is increased.
Maria Phiri, a second hand shoe vendor at Limbe Market said on Tuesday she wants the next government to ensure that rising prices are contained and to reduce the costs of doing business.