Goodall Gondwe

Goodall Edward Gondwe
Born	(1936-12-01) 1 December 1936 Kayiwonanga village, Mzimba, Northern Region, Malawi
Died	8 August 2023(2023-08-08) (aged 86) Lilongwe, Malawi
Occupation(s)	Economist, politician
Years active	2004–2019 (ministerial roles)
Known for	Minister of Finance of Malawi (2004–2009, 2014–2019)

Goodall Edward Gondwe (1 December 1936 – 8 August 2023) was a distinguished Malawian economist who held the position of Minister of Finance on two separate occasions, from 2004 to 2009 and again from 2014 to 2019. In addition, he served as Minister of Local Government between 2009 and 2010, and as Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment Affairs from 2011 to 2012.

Prior to entering politics, Gondwe was the director of the Africa Division at the International Monetary Fund and acted as Chief Economic Advisor to President Bakili Muluzi.

Early life and education

Born on 1 December 1936 in Kayiwonanga village within the Mzimba area of Malawi’s Northern Region of Malawi, Gondwe spent periods living and working abroad in both the Ivory Coast and Virginia, USA. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of London. His professional journey included significant positions such as General Manager of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, Senior Vice President and Acting President at the African Development Bank, Senior Advisor and Director for Africa at the International Monetary Fund, as well as Chief Economic Advisor to President Bakili Muluzi.

Political career

Gondwe initially served as an economic adviser to Presidents Bakili Muluzi and Bingu wa Mutharika. Although hesitant to pursue a political path, he was persuaded to enter politics following the imprisonment of the sitting Member of Parliament for Mzimba North. He subsequently rose through the ranks within Malawi’s cabinet and became affiliated with the Democratic Progressive Party.

Finance Minister of Malawi

In June 2004, President Bingu wa Mutharika appointed Gondwe as Minister of Finance. His tenure is widely recognized for spearheading Malawi’s economic recovery during Mutharika’s initial term. Under his stewardship, inflation declined sharply from 30% in 2005 to just 6% by 2008, while the economy expanded by roughly 6%. Despite Malawi’s relatively limited natural resource base compared to neighboring countries such as Zambia and Tanzania, Gondwe’s effective management earned him the distinction of Africa's Finance Minister of the Year in 2008 at the African Banker Awards held in Washington DC. The Nyasa Times referred to him as the “engine room” behind Malawi’s economic progress.

Paladin Energy

Gondwe played a key role in securing an agreement with Australian uranium mining firm Paladin Energy, marking Malawi’s first venture into uranium extraction. He emphasized that exploring uranium resources would help diversify and strengthen the nation’s export portfolio, anticipating that earnings could exceed those generated by tobacco, which has traditionally been Malawi’s leading foreign currency source. At that time, Henry Chimunthu Banda was serving as Minister of Energy and Mining. The Kayelekera uranium mine project was intended to transform this underdeveloped northern region into a thriving urban center, creating approximately 800 jobs during construction and around 280 permanent positions thereafter. Nevertheless, Paladin Energy attracted criticism over its labor conditions, health impacts, and environmental practices.

Minister of Local Government

Following the general elections in May 2009, President Mutharika conducted a cabinet reshuffle that saw Gondwe moved from his role as Minister of Finance to that of Minister of Local Government. He was succeeded in the finance portfolio by Ken Kandodo, who was later replaced amid widespread strikes triggered by public dissatisfaction with economic governance and opposition to the contentious Zero Deficit Budget.

Later career

On 1 August 2011, Gondwe was named Vice-President of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and soon after assumed the role of Minister of Natural Resources. In October 2012, he declared his plan to step down from the DPP and withdraw from political life following the 2014 elections. Despite this, President Peter Mutharika reinstated Gondwe as Minister of Finance in June 2014.

Death

Goodall Gondwe passed away in Lilongwe on 8 August 2023 at the age of 86.

Awards

• Awarded Africa's "Finance Minister of the Year" by the African Banker Awards in 2008