Ambassador Eastham bids farewell

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Malawi Alan Eastham says he will fondly remember Malawi as a country with a working democracy that is growing stronger by the day.  Speaking in his pre-departure media appearances, Ambassador Eastham advised Malawians to count their blessings because the country has institutions like a parliament that work, a fair legal system, and a vibrant civil society.

He said no matter how poor Malawi may view itself, it is rich in its intelligent people, a good climate and other significant advantages.  He added that Malawi is blessed because it never had to go to war to achieve what it has.  The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Malawian Government, the private sector, and various institutions and individuals for supporting him during his term of office.

He said he was leaving Malawi a happy man after overseeing Malawi’s qualification for Millennium Challenge Corporation programs and access to U.S. Government resources to fight malaria.  He said the U.S. Government has provided insecticide treated bed nets and the initial 18 months supply of the new malaria treatment drug currently available in all public hospitals and health centers in the country.  He however expressed concern over the high levels of drug pilferage in the health sector which he said could be overcome with improved efficiency on the part of the Ministry of Health.

He also expressed worry over the high cost of sustaining the fertilizer subsidy program, whose total bill has nearly doubled from K10 billion ($70 million) last year to K17 billion ($120 million) this year.  He said, “I am concerned at the very high cost of the input subsidy program in the sense that they have to limit to people who really need it and it will be one way of cutting down the cost”. 

On the current stand off between government and opposition, Ambassador Eastham described the 2009 general elections as key to resolving the current challenges, saying “Malawi has a unique situation of a parliament which has no party with clear majority and only elections can resolve this.”  He urged Malawians to support the electoral process to ensure a free, fair, transparent and acceptable election. 

He lauded the Malawi Government for its progress on the economic front in the past four years, which led to the reduction of inflation to single digits in 2007, interest rates from about 20 to 15 percent and economic growth at an average of 7 percent in the last three years. 

Ambassador Eastham, who has served as U.S. Ambassador to Malawi for three years, will be moving to the Republic of Congo in the same capacity.