Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA)

A few months ago, Bingu wa Mutharika, called his fellow Malawians 'chickens' for having the audacity to criticise him and complain about the way he was 'governing' them. Well the chickens are certainly coming home to roost now for the craven bunch of apologists and praises-singers (sorry Cabinet members and other senior officials) who backed Bingu's personalisation of the State.

In another huge blow to the credibility of Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika and his government, the US has suspended a massive aid package, which would have ploughed US$350 million into the country's barely-existent power sector. It is also a devastating blow to the millions of Malawians who would have benefitted from the extra electricity - and a potentially fatal blow to hopes of sustainable growth and development.

There has been widespread praise for Joyce Banda's decision to slash her own presidential salary by 30 percent - and an equal amount of shock and surprise (particularly, I would guess, from her presidential peers in southern Africa who know an alarming precedent when they see one!). Needless to say, it is almost entirely symbolic since she still has State House and all Malawi's presidential expenses to live off.