Ramaphosa has his work cut out to follow Malawi’s lead in rooting out graft
After claiming victory in a court-ordered election rerun, Lazarus Chakwera is now luring SA farmers
Amid Covid-19, Lazarus rose. From the ashes of a fraudulent election in Malawi, Pentecostal preacher Lazarus Chakwera claimed victory in a court-ordered rerun in June. This was the second time an African election has been voided — Kenya’s was overturned by its courts in 2017 — and the first time a challenger has then gone on, after such a ruling, to dethrone an incumbent. That, paired with the new president’s character, offers hope of a fresh beginning for many across the African continent — including for SA’s struggling farmers.
Malawi’s fundamentals for agriculture are strong: nutrient-rich land combined with a lush climate. Yet what is lacking is the expertise to maximise economic and job creation: while more than 80% of Malawians are employed in farming, most of them are subsistence farmers. The country needs not only agribusiness investment but the know-how to add value to the chain of production and multiply yields. Now they have a president leading the charge: “South Af...
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