* The rising cost of living as reflected in inflation rate, has been a number one item being portrayed in electoral process polls, and the results seem to point to that element strongly
* This is a key message that countries such as Malawi, that are heading towards elections in 2025, should reflect on; no leadership can survive through excuses on issues or management of the econony
By Duncan Mlanjira
The election results in the United States of America (USA) “seem to suggest that what was on the voters mind was strongly the econony and the ability of leadership in managing it”, says Chifipa Mhango, the Chief Economist for South Africa-based Don Consultancy Group.
“It is coming out clearly that former President Donald Trump is set for victory despite his character on certain dynamics, which are portrayed as divisive for the USA,” says the Chief Economist, who is also Malawi’s Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) national director for economic affairs.
“Even his recent court of law battles and the much publicized conduct of 6th January, did not deter Americans from voting him back into the Presidency, says Mhango of Trump, whom Al Jazeera reported that the Republican presidential candidate declared victory over Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, after being projected to win the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.
“For starters, if one considers the key economic data, inflation rate, it is clear that under President Trump, inflation rate averaged below 2.5%, whilst under the current administration — to which Vice-President Harris is part of, we observe inflation rate rising to reaching a highest level since November 1981, at 9.1%, in June 2022.
“Much as there was a slow movement downwards since then, the environment saw interest rates in the USA rising to highest levels in years, to contain inflation rate.
“Recent September 2024 data point to inflation rate in the USA at 2.4%, which is still higher than the previous Trump administration on average.”
The Chief Economist Chifipa Mhango
Mhango maintains that “the ability of leadership to being decisive on issues and ability to manage crisis, especially the economy, has cost the current administration this Novenber 2024 elections”.
“Economic data such as unemployment rate, employement rate, trade deficit levels, all point to better environment under former President Trump period compared to the current USA administration where Harris is part of.
“The rising cost of living as reflected in inflation rate, has been a number one item being portrayed in electoral process polls, and the results seem to point to that element strongly.”
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The Chief Economist further stresses that “this is a key message that countries such as Malawi, that are heading towards elections in 2025, should reflect on; no leadership can survive through excuses on issues or management of the econony.
“It’s rather the ability of leadership in dealing with key elements of the econony through effective economic policies as well as the capacity to implement that matters.
“Cost of living is a daily experience of voters and cannot be hidden even under manipulated data. It’s impact is high on society.
“USA voters have put the econony at the centre stage of the electoral process,” he concluded.
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people do not fall for propaganda anymore. We will see similar results in Malawi, come 2025