Foreign aid accounts for 40% of Malawi\u2019s budget, but the country suffered a blow last April when Britain decided to freeze aid following a diplomatic row over the expulsion of the UK high commissioner, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, who had branded Mutharika \u201cautocratic and intolerant of criticism\u201d<\/a>. Banda has moved quickly to distance herself from her predecessor\u2019s reign, and her approach has already earned a rapprochement with Britain. Last week, William Hague, the British foreign secretary, announced a resumption of diplomatic ties and the forthcoming appointment of a new high commissioner.<\/p>\n On Monday, Andrew Mitchell, the UK\u2019s international development secretary, told the Guardian: \u201cBritain has a long and deep commitment to the people of Malawi and we have a comprehensive development programme that is providing those in need with significant help.\u201d<\/p>\n But he added: \u201cAs with all of our country programmes, the future shape of British support will be based on Malawi\u2019s record in terms of proper governance, financial management and human rights. The president has already put an emphasis on addressing this and I look forward to discussing her priorities with her directly in the weeks ahead and responding to them.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week, Hague said in a Commons statement that Banda\u2019s priorities include \u201cnormalising relations with the UK\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIn her inauguration speech President Banda emphasised the need to focus immediately on mourning president Mutharika, and for healing and reconciliation, and encouraged the people of Malawi to work together to address the many challenges that face the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe president has continued this theme, and made clear that her top priorities include getting back on track with the IMF and normalising relations with the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n Hague revealed formal diplomatic relations had been maintained with Malawi despite Cochrane-Dyet\u2019s expulsion last April. He said: \u201cI have now decided that the time is right to appoint a new high commissioner to Malawi. The prime minister has written to the president to convey this decision to her.\u201d Hague added that, once appointed, the new high commissioner would \u201cmonitor developments in Malawi closely\u201d.<\/p>\n Banda, a former vice-president of the country and a women\u2019s rights activist<\/a>, was sworn in as president on 7 April and immediately set about purging her late predecessor\u2019s allies.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.faceofmalawi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/MALAWI-FLAG.jpg\" "\\"MALAWI")
<\/a><\/p>\n