Malawi has been urged to prioritise the implementation of existing economic policies and reforms to accelerate growth, strengthen fiscal sustainability and improve the livelihoods of citizens.
Chief Secretary to the Government, Justin Saidi, made the remarks during official opening of the 2026 Economic Association of Malawi (ECAMA) Annual Economic Conference in Mangochi.
He noted that while the country has developed numerous policy documents, implementation remains a major challenge.
He called for closer collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society and development partners.
Saidi stressed the need to move beyond policy formulation and focus on translating commitments into measurable results.
“As a country, we have developed a number of policies, and what is lacking is the issue of implementation,” He said.
Saidi emphasised the importance of pooling resources and expertise to address economic challenges, particularly in the pursuit of fiscal sustainability and the aspirations of Malawi 2063. He noted the Malawi Implementation Plan 1 (MIP-1), covering 2020–2030, as a framework that requires urgent prioritisation.
“The country should identify the most urgent interventions and implement them rather than continue producing policy documents without translating them into action,” he added.
ECAMA Board of Trustees Chairperson, George Partridge, said Malawi’s longstanding failure to implement economic policies has hindered diversification. He observed that despite decades of discussion, the economy remains heavily reliant on tobacco.
Partridge argued that the issue lies not in the absence of policies but in the failure to align implementation with stated objectives.
“Malawi should now concentrate on implementation and not on the policy side, because I think on the policy side we have had enough,” he said.
Partridge called for a clear implementation framework with timelines, responsible institutions and measurable outcomes, supported by mechanisms for monitoring progress. He also advocated consequence management to ensure accountability, noting that institutions and individuals who fail to meet agreed targets should face repercussions, while those who deliver should be recognised.
Meanwhile, Brian Numero, Head of Treasury and Capital Management at Standard Bank, said the conference theme, ‘Shifting from policy to action’, was timely given the numerous reform proposals developed over the years.
He warned that economic transformation would remain elusive unless recommendations were translated into practical interventions.
“If those recommendations are just sitting on the desk and are not being implemented, then there’s nothing which is going to change,” he said.
In his official opening speech, Saidi outlined several priorities for strengthening Malawi’s economy, including expanding domestic revenue, encouraging productive investment, rebuilding foreign exchange reserves and reducing inflationary pressures.
He also called for investment in strategic infrastructure, stronger social protection systems and improved governance to create an environment conducive to private sector growth.
The two-day conference is expected to provide a platform for economic experts and stakeholders to discuss practical solutions to Malawi’s challenges and identify ways of accelerating reform implementation.
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