Food is an essential basic commodity people cannot do without elsewhere in the world. Therefore it does not make sense when the government does not show seriousness in addressing problems militating against food security in the country.

Among the key issues at the pre-budget consultation meetings is the revelation that Malawi is losing about US$1 billion annually from the mining sector through smuggling of precious stones.

Projections show that the country will have a surplus of over 700,000 metric tonnes of maize this year. With such good news, it is important for the country to protect ordinary farmers from unscrupulous traders who are fond of buying food crops at very low prices and smuggle them outside the country.

The manner in which the national budget is being managed by the government does not inspire hope of near economic recovery, unless the administration comes back to its senses and starts managing resources prudently.

THE admission by Minister of Youth and Sports that the Youth and Enterprise Development Fund (Yedef) is facing problems because of defaulters  should be a wak-eup call to the current leadership and all those involved with the loan disbursement process.

The pre-budget consultations for the 2013/14 started in earnest on Monday. These consultations this year are unique because we are coming from a situation where we have seen drastic changes in the economy following government's bold decisions to implement austerity economic reforms such as the devaluation and floatation of the currency.

President Joyce Banda and her People's Party (PP) led government yesterday celebrated their one year in office.

It is disappointing that the state of life in Malawi prisons does not seem to be changing as would be necessary.

The coming down of maize price is basically good news because it means the grain is now going to be affordable to most Malawians who have been toiling to get what is the country's staple grain.

Integrity and transparency are huge tests of governments in Africa and we could soon witness the Joyce Banda government failing that test, just like the governments before this one.

There are some things that government does that make one wonder whether it takes the lives of its people or its own operations seriously.

There is no doubt that we have serious challenges as a nation and we need the determination and tenacity of the strong-hearted to overcome our problems and challenges.

It is distressing that the country has been singing the song of turning Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to a public broadcaster from a state broadcaster for decades.

The country has so far been ruled by three elected parties: Malawi Congress Party [MCP] as the liberation force, United Democratic Front [UDF] as a democratising group, and the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] as a movement that espoused progress in our democracy.

It is welcome news that the country's First Citizen President Joyce Banda has finally taken a bold step and decided to leap into cyber world and be part of the world's information superhighway by joining the social media in the name of Facebook.

The High Court ruling that has awarded two private companies about K700 million I compensation is a chilling lesson to government and any interest groups on the need to ensure peaceful demonstrations.

The role of the judiciary in a democracy, which is to assist in delivering justice, is very crucial. The day-to-day role of the judiciary, which entails the application of the law to factual situations and the provision of just resolutions for the parties as well as for the society, contribute greatly to the entrenchment of the rule of law.

The Oxford University's study finding that it would take Malawi 74 years to eradicate poverty makes the heart sink because that means seventy four years of this grinding existence, seventy four years of no real income for the people, of illiteracy and disease, of pangs of hunger and malnutrition. That is seventy four years of heartache and tortured living.

That our Members of Parliament [MPs] need a lot of exposure begs no argument. Their role in the running of our public affairs is very important given that they have to make laws and create polices that advance our development.

The outbreak of sporadic political protests during some of our past elections has been denting the nation's clean record of its tranquility and the warm heartedness of its citizenry.