Malawi has been named as one of the nations with a sustained deprivation of free basic necessities over the four years.
This is according to a report that an eminent African research organization Afrobarometer has released.
The study was aimed at tracking a steady improvement in the living conditions of the average African. Measured as the frequency with which people go without a basket of basic necessities food, clean water, health care, heating fuel, and cash income, “lived poverty” dropped in a sustained fashion over this period – a trend matched by consumption-based estimates of poverty by the World Bank.
By extension, the Afrobarometer survey found that the average rate at which Africans go without a basket of basic necessities declined between 2005/2006 and 2014/2015.
In the Lived Poverty Index (LPI) which reflects average deprivation of five basic necessities, Malawi has gotten a core of 1.48 rendering it as one of the nations that have poorly performed.
The report also gives damning figures that 76% of Malawi have been facing food shortage in the said period.
It also states that 33 % of Malawians have over the last four years, gone without enough food despite various programs meant to ensure food security.
The study also found out that 23% face frequent shortages of medical care.
The findings of the report come at the expiry of the development blue print the Vision 2020 which has since been replaced by the Vision 2063.
It comes as plans for Malawi to attaining sustainable growth and development and becoming a middle income economy are far from implementation.
The study which was conducted in 34 countries in 2016/2018, more than half (53%) of all respondents report facing shortages of medicine or medical services at least once in the previous 12 months, and nearly as many experienced shortages of clean water (49%) and food (47%). Nearly four in 10 experienced shortages of cooking fuel (38%).
According to the World Bank, national poverty rate increased slightly from 50.7% in 2010 to 51.5% in 2016, but extreme national poverty decreased from 24.5% in 2010/11 to 20.1 in 2016/17.
The report has since urged governments in the region portray political will in management of resources and develop sound development policies.