/ 31 March 2000

MALAWI FISCAL CONTOL TO TIGHTEN

MALWIAN Finance Minister Matthews Chikaonda pledged strict fiscal discipline and action against inefficient public leaders on Thursday in a bid to further boost economic growth in the country. In a presentation to parliament’s finance committee, Chikaonda pledged a reform of government spending priorities and better management of this poor, landlocked country’s scarce resources. Chikaonda said he wants to run government departments like a private business, giving massive incentives to increase productivity while punishing those who wasted resources. Its economy is forecast to grow at 6% in 2000, compared with an average of 4% in each of the past three years.