Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has written government demanding an explanation on the country’s status of foreign exchange.

A letter that CDEDI has written Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Sosten Gwengwe which YFM has seen, has among others asked the minister to provide a clear explanation to the cause of the foreign exchange crisis in the country saying is contributing to shortage of drugs in the country’s hospitals.

Speaking to YFM Online, CDEDI executive director, Silvester Namiwa said this is a worrisome development hence he appealed with the minister to reveal the policies that have been set aside to cater for foreign exchange challenges and save the current economy of the country.

“We have written the minister of finance to explain to Malawians the policies have been put in place to save the economy as evidenced by the weakening of our kwacha currency which is contributing to this too,” Namiwa said.

“Government should remember that due to challenges with forex there are challenges to buy essential needs including drugs, fuel, wheat flour and cooking oil in the country.”

According to CDEDI the war in Ukraine is a wakeup call for the government to find ways of to recover the country’s economy.

“The war in Ukraine should provide ways and opportunity for government to find incentives to commercial farmers to grow high value crops such as sun flour and soya beans to cater for some of the challenges faced in the country,” Namiwa said.

Meanwhile CDEDI has condemned government conflicting government policies such as what trade minister Mark Katsonga recently said the need for the country to issue more licences to cooking oil suppliers forgetting that the main problem is a shortage of forex in the country.