It is another birthday celebration today. His Excellency the State President of the Republic of Malawi, Ngwazi Prof. Bingu Wa Muthalika is celebrating his 78th birthday. The President was born on 24th February in Malawi’s southern region district of Thyolo in 1934. Ngwazi Prof. Bingu Wa Muthalika has been the President of Malawi since 2004 and he took over the reign of power from Dr. Bakili Muluzi who ruled the country from 1994-2004. Ngwazi Prof Bingu Wa Muthalika is an accomplished economist and a diplomat. The President previously worked with the both the Governments of Malawi and Zambia, the United Nation Economic Commission of Africa and COMESA.

Therefore we extend my heartfelt wishes to His Excellency as he celebrate this wonderful day today and praying that God continue to guide and give him more wisdom as he lead and take care of the affairs of the country. Also we pray that God shall continue to sustain and see him through even in these difficult times the nation is going through. The President should be encouraged with the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:6 where the Apostle, “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”.

As we join in this celebration, we would like to highlight some of the major achievements that the nation has seen during the few years that His Excellency has been the President of the country.

Food security
Since 2004, Malawians household have seen a positive change in food security. The Bingu Administration has been able to give Malawians fertilizer at an affordable price something which continues to make Malawians harvest enough at household level. Food is a every critical and the most needed item in every home and the presence of food makes everything around easy. As I give credit where its due, I realize that some people deliberately pretend as if the food situation has not improved in the country. The situation is far much better than 2001, 2002 and 2003 when I had to bring ufa all the way from South Africa to save my relatives because then there was literally no ufa in the main shops in the country. That season was bad and it left a mark in my life and that is why I say that comparably, this time around the nation is better in terms of food security which has drastically improved because at household level people have something to eat and can afford a good three meals in a day.

Infrastructural development
The one thing that I like about His Excellency is his way of dreaming in colours where as an economist he understands that infrastructural development is a gateway to prosperity of any nation. Developed nations have state of the art road networks and buildings in their towns and cities. Now in enhancing the nation’s developmental agenda, the President has managed to complete six visible infrastructure projects which include;
-National Parliament
-Five Star Hotel
-Presidential villa
-Chipembere Highway
-Karonga Chitipa road
-University of Science and Technology

Having said this, I agree with those who give credit where it’s due in terms of the contribution that the President has made in the country. in all truthfulness, we need to appreciate this contribution because for example the Karonga-Chitipa Road will boast economic activities between karong, Chitipa and the rest of the country. This is the road that Dr. Banda and Dr. Muluzi could not construct and made Chitipa completely cut from the rest of Malawi. Also the three major project withint the Capital (Five Star hotel, Presidential Villa and Parliament) has changed the face of the City in a big way because the City Centre of today is more beautiful than what it used to. Driving through city Centre you can see a huge change in terms of beauty and this is what we need to give credit where its due.

Also driving through the Chipembere highway in Blantyre you see a change and the beautiful highway which has changed the face of the city. Driving from Limbe to Blantyre you can see a change because in all its fairness, Blantyre is not the same in terms of road network and the beauty the Chipembere highway adds to its face. All these are the projects that we need to appreciate that at least finally we can see with our own eyes tangible projects finished unlike previously when projects could start and be suspended and remain unfinished. Finally the University being constructed, the state of the art Institution of Higher learning is one thing that will add value to the life of the nation and this is also what we need to appreciate