Malawi Freedom Network 
By MFN News Desk Team
President Peter Mutharika says his administration has achieved about 50 percent of the targets it set for its first year in office, pointing to progress in food security, economic recovery and restoring freedoms as key accomplishments.
Mutharika made the remarks in an interview with state broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), where he reflected on the performance of his administration during its first year in government.
The President said his government entered office with two principal objectives: to liberate the country and rebuild the economy.
According to Mutharika, the administration has made notable progress towards both priorities, although he acknowledged that development has not been uniform across the country.
Food security a major achievement
Mutharika particularly highlighted food security as one of the administration’s important achievements, arguing that the impact is best understood by communities that previously struggled to find enough food.
He pushed back against criticism that food security should not be regarded as a major achievement, saying the issue has a direct impact on ordinary Malawians.
“I know some people said that achieving food security is not an achievement. I was very surprised because ask those people in Machinga eating Chitedze, or Nyika in Chikwawa and Nsanje; they will tell you that it was an achievement,” Mutharika said.
The President’s comments underline his administration’s emphasis on improving access to food, particularly in communities that experienced hunger.
Progress not the same everywhere
While presenting his government’s first-year performance positively, Mutharika acknowledged that the pace of progress has differed from one area to another.
He said some parts of the country have moved faster than others, suggesting that the government’s agenda still has significant work ahead before all communities experience the benefits of its policies.
Mutharika nevertheless maintained that reaching approximately half of the administration’s first-year objectives represents meaningful progress.
Economic rebuilding remains central
Beyond food security, the President said rebuilding Malawi’s economy remains one of his administration’s central responsibilities.
His government has repeatedly presented economic recovery as a key component of its agenda, alongside efforts aimed at improving living conditions and restoring freedoms.
Mutharika’s assessment provides an early measure of how he views the performance of his administration and the distance still remaining in fulfilling its broader promises.
With the President acknowledging that only about half of his first-year agenda has been achieved, the coming period is likely to focus on accelerating implementation and ensuring that progress reaches communities that have yet to experience significant improvements.
For Mutharika, however, the ability of previously food-insecure communities to access food represents a tangible achievement that should not be dismissed.
His remarks also signal that the administration intends to measure its performance not only through economic indicators and government programmes, but also through the everyday experiences of Malawians.
