Frank Phiri

It’s a tale of delays, missed deadlines and the grinding problems that can dog large-scale infrastructure projects. Work to connect electricity lines between Malawi and Mozambique was scheduled to have been completed by 2002. The deadline has now been shifted to 2005, however -– and officials aren’t ruling out 2006.

With just under four months remaining before Malawi’s general elections, local activists and international observers have expressed concern at the lack-lustre response to voter registration efforts. The registration exercise has also prompted opposition parties to cry foul.

Corrupt fat cats in Malawi continue to walk around with their heads held high, even though they have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. The consequences of their acts are set to remain a burden on this poor Southern African country of more than 11-million people as it prepares to go to the polls in May.