An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission met the Malawian government this week to discuss the country's deepening economic problems. Earlier this year, Britain suspended aid to the southern African country citing government over-expenditure and the lack of fiscal discipline.

Malawi's independent press is the latest casualty of political intolerance in the region, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) said in a statement.

A hoard of civil society representatives from over 45 non governmental organisations have started meeting in Blantyre to discuss issues of current food crisis, macroeconomic framework and good governance ahead of International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission's visit next week.

Malnutrition is making it difficult for Malawi's doctors to successfully treat patients, IRIN has learnt. The director of one of Malawi's main hospitals told IRIN that many discharged patients are being re-admitted after suffering a relapse, of whatever illness, because they have no food at home.