Malawi Parliament approves extra K11.5 billion budget
Malawi Parliament on Monday approved an extra K11.5 billion (about US$76 million) supplementary budget.
The extra budget has increased the 2009/10 national budget to 269.5 billion kwacha from the initial 258 billion kwacha which was approved in July last year.
Finance minister Ken Kandodo said in an interview outside parliament that the upward adjustment is necessary to enable government to effectively carry out its programs for the remaining six months.
“This extra budget will help us mitigate the effects of the dry spell that has destroyed crop in nine districts, help us support new commitments for AU chairmanship, and help us repay domestic debt among other demands,” Finance Minister said.
He said in the additional budget, K350 million will be used to assist survivors of last year’s earthquake in Karonga district.
Kandodo also said K950 million from the budget will be used to fund President Bingu wa Mutharika’s activities as the chairman of the African Union-AU.
Mutharika rose to the high post of the African organisation, last week, after taking over from Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Meanwhile, the Parliament will from Tuesday start tabling government bills, which include the electoral commission and local government amendments and financial bills.
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