The system worked well enough when Malawians were all farmers and there was plenty of land to go round.

ECONOMIST: No title

Malawians welcomed his focus on reducing reliance on food aid and attaining self-sufficiency.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

"The fact that we had to devalue by 40% at once means that Malawians are feeling the shock, " Banda says.

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During her news conference, Banda, along with former President Bakili Muluzi, called on Malawians to adhere to the constitution regarding the issue of succession.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

But, he warns, ordinary Malawians will measure the president's success on more mundane matters like his ability to deliver drugs to hospitals and fertiliser to farms.

BBC: Bingu wa Mutharika

These development challenges are intertwined in the lives of Malawians, and we must fight for progress on many fronts if we are to lift my country from poverty.

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He said the health system could not cope with the Aids crisis and Malawians should the scourge by discouraging the kind of behaviour that helps the spread of the disease.

BBC: Funeral of Aids patient in Zambia

The 33% currency devaluation - although widely recommended by economists - has put huge strain on the treasury, and on many ordinary Malawians, as the price of imported goods has soared.

BBC: UK call to aid Malawi's economy

Malawians were told to prosper by tilling the land.

ECONOMIST: Hastings Banda

Demand is brisk: Malawians adore goat stew.

ECONOMIST: No title

Mr Muluzi, who dubbed himself the "political engineer", sold Mr Mutharika to Malawians as the "economic engineer" and did all the campaigning on behalf of his protege - so much that it was a complete surprise that the two fell out immediately after the elections.

BBC: Bingu wa Mutharika (back) and Bakili Muluzi (front)