 Recently, I received the following report from John Mandere, the Director of Ministry of Hope, Malawi, on the current economic situation there. It paints a vivid picture of a nation in crisis and how our brothers and sisters in Christ are struggling mightily in the midst of their own travails to minister to those in even greater need. But true to the name of our ministry it also reflects hope that comes from the knowledge that our creator God walks with us in our distress. I urge you to read John's report. I hope it renews in you, as it did in me, a sense of urgency to pray for the people of Malawi and for wisdom and compassion as we seek our own ways to respond.
Report from John Mandere
Over the past four years Malawi has enjoyed economic growth of about 9%. However, recently a number of factors have combined to erode much of this progress. The recent Consumer Price Index Inflation Report (October, 2011) has shown that inflation in the urban areas is at 10% while in the rural areas is at 7%. Due to pressure from international institutions like the IMF, Malawi has been forced to devalue its currency by 10%, and this has caused basic commodity prices to skyrocket. Furthermore, donors have withheld over US$500 million in budgetary support due to what they call poor governance. This has led to a shortage of much needed foreign reserves and triggered a shortage of imported fuel. To make matters even worse, the government of Malawi has recently increased fuel prices by almost 34% thereby forcing prices of goods and services to rise by approximately the same margin.
According to Malawi government, the country has enough food to sustain its people to the next growing season. However, the Southern Africa Food Security Outlook report (2011) states that in southern Malawi there is a food deficit. Furthermore, in areas where Ministry of Hope is working there is clear evidence that many households will not have enough food to last them till the next harvest period. The problem of food insecurity could be even higher next year since reports show that many people will not have access to subsidized fertilizer due to drastic reductions in the number of beneficiaries.
This situation has gravely affected MOH's operations. The ministry has frequently been forced to suspend and cancel its outreach medical clinic due to scarcity of fuel thus affecting hundreds of patients who rely on the MOH mobile clinic because they can't access government hospitals. Staff have also failed to conduct monitoring visits to the feeding centres and some schools as they spend most of the times looking for fuel. MOH is also struggling to follow up on discharged babies and rescuing new babies due to unavailability of fuel. As a result, abandoned babies now have no chance to get new hope at the crisis nurseries. Again, due to high commodity prices MOH is struggling to purchase food supplies like formula and other critical food supplies for the feeding centres thereby denying vulnerable children access to much needed meals.
MOH staff are highly demoralized since they themselves are struggling to make ends meet. They can hardly afford to get basic food and non-food items due to exorbitant prices since their monthly salaries cannot meet the high cost of commodities. Most of them are complaining that rent has increased and transport costs are even unbearable. To this effect, most staff, mainly at the nurseries, are forced to walk long distances to and from work. Furthermore, they resort to staying at the office even if its not their shift to work so that they save on transport, and this also affects their own families since they now have less time to spend with them.
MOH is doing all it can with the meager resources at its disposal to build resilience in households so that they withstand the impact of our current economic woes. To counteract fertilizer scarcity, MOH is distributing drought resistant crops like sorghum (which does not require fertilizer) so that farmers can have diversified food crops. MOH is also teaching communities new farming technologies like biointensive agriculture so that in the long term farmers will not depend on fertilizer. The ministry has also distributed rabbits and guinea fowls for rearing as a source of protein. MOH has also intensified village savings and loan groups so that people in the communities have money to buy fertilizer, engage in business and thereby improve their economic status.
As regards to fuel scarcity, MOH has been purchasing fuel on the black market, which is not only unsafe but also expensive. However, this has been the only way out of this fuel crisis as even government officials and other NGOs have resorted to buying fuel in this manner, otherwise everything would be on hold if not total collapse.
With the current economic crisis and blurred economic outlook for next year, MOH is considering reducing non-essential staff and also intake of babies mainly at its Lilongwe Crisis nursery as they can hardly survive with the current monthly allocation.
Aggressive marketing which includes local child sponsorship and grant proposals and networking with different churches are just two of the ways MOH staff are trying to raise funds for the ministry.
We believe that with resources or without, God's ministry will still thrive and grow because God is still God in times of drought and in times of plenty. Therefore, we ask all well wishers and partners of MOH to continue praying for the ministry so that it still remains focused in addressing the needs of children through empowering of households, churches and communities. When all is said and done, we will all look back at the rescued babies, transformed orphans and caregivers; and boldly with hope and joy declare: To God be the glory! |
