Tembo says Malawi should not accuse foreign countries for its economic mess
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president John Tembo has said President Bingu wa Mutharika government should not accuse foreign countries on the crippling foreign currency and fuel shortages.
The problems have prompted the government to ban all foreign trips by public officials and affected Mutharika’s trip to attend Commonwealth Heads of government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Where has foreign exchange gone? Let people know,” said the veteran politician.
“But don’t accuse foreign countries as being responsible for the mess we are in today in Malawi,” said Tembo.
Malawi government blames Mozambique as being esponsible for the country’s fuel woes, claiming that fuel has been held up because of congestion in the ports of Nacala and Beira. The claim was strongly denied by Mozambique authorities.
Tembo in remarks made on Capital Radio said the ban of all foreign trips by government officials is not going to help save the much needed foreign exchange.
“It is not. Because the amount of money spent by civil servants on trips is not the major problem. But the major problems that Malawi has, are not caused by civil servants, whether in their trips, allowances and so on,” he said.
“Yes it’s good to reduce expenditure, control expenditure but to use that as main reason, no!”
Tembo questioned President Mutharika for presidential jet purchase at the tune of about US$15.9million.
“Where did he get the money to buy the plane which he has?” wondered the MCP president.
“I don’t remember parliament passing the budget and money which was used to purchase the presidential jet. Because an item like that comes to parliament as a specific item for the whole country to take pride in for a Head of State to have a new jet.
“After all, I have dealt with purchase of plane before, both as minister of finance and chairman of Air Malawi. We had to bring to parliament specific items for approval.”
He said: “For instance, Kwacha that plane we are using now, I negotiated for its purchase myself and parliament had to pass authorization bill for the loan which was used to buy that plane.
“Who can tell me now that you can hide in the budget a major item as a purchase of a plane?”
Tembo called on government o be democratic, transparent and be open to its own citizens.
Mawu chief justice kamphata!
The Question is where is his Execellency got the forex to the jet? Tembo is right, we have to accept truth even if its from someone we hate. At the end the whole country will be in problems even the Lomwe inclusive. Where in the world can you tell your citizens not to buy luxuries. From quota to Mulhako then now to forex. What kind of leader? Just go and sell that Jet then bring the forex back. We want to import cars & LCD TVs from Japan.
The govt has to do more than just blamining others.JZU has made good statement
Chithunzi cha Baba Tembo chimenecho mwachipeza kwaani.The Guys looks youthful I choose to Disagree with those branding him “too old.”
Of course I new it earlier, we thought Malawi could even be a donor to Zimbabwe to bail out them from economic turmoils -$100million! What? A Bingu moto,moto!-no wonder Malawi is now the next Zimbabwe!Baba you have a point, unfortunately you are at the exit door.
der of oposition has said. But Obaba, can you tell us where a forex has gone. nthawi yonseyi bwenzi mutaulawa upulezident. Kapumeni
thats talking baba! keep fighting this stupid govt which has back stabbed its electorate. the govt should not find incomprehensible scapegoats and try to brainwash us. the fact of the matter is, running a govt is not a simple task as drinking old scotch whisky mixed with a cocktail of ARVs! titomvana?
and now this mulhakho boss is trying to strangle me financially by banning importation of second hand cars! ndikakudyera kunyumba kwako? THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED!!!!
JZU which parliament are you talking about here? parliament ya Kamuzu? yopanda otsutsa? Besides who was courageous enough to challenge ur bills in ur one party era, without fearing crocodiles in the shire river?
The issue here is not whether Tembo will rule Malawi or not. I fail to undertand Malawians mentality when it comes to issues affecting them. They sit Phwiii and do nothing when some one is trying to tell you to wake up and smell the coffee. What Hon. Tembo raises here is a serious matter. He points out that the president failed to follow a process. That process is supposed to be transparent through parliament. The government must justify to us the people through parliament as to why the he needs a new Jet.
If Bingu can just get up one morning and say to the treasury “transfer this amount for my private Jet”, where is the accountability? Who says that the Jet actually cost $15 Million. For all we know it might have cost $10 Million and yet we are told it was $15M? These are the questions that must be asked by those so called leaders of opposition in parliament. Don’t just sit there waiting for crumbs to be thrown at you for singing songs of praise. If Bingu can transfer that amount of money without parliament’s approval, how much more has he transfered to his foreign bank accounts? These are the questions the treasury must respond to. Hate him or love him Tembo is a maverick. He has been there he knows the game. Lets hear what the Kayembes are going to talk about in parliament. If Malawians do not speak up, we are in serious trouble! Bingu has a reputation of being a swindler. His record in Zambia speaks for its self.
Bravo! Chief Justice Kamphata for correcting that statue and for your constructive arguments.
Chamsala chidawona nkhondo.JZU sakulakwitsa akunena zoona. Tatiyeni tione bwinobwino apa, kuti tiwone cha tsidza Dzaye kuti Njobvu ithyoke Mnyanga.
Ma USA apita kuti? Mwagwitsa tchito chiyani. Tembo tiyenao Kayembe ndimwna Amudyetsa Uchi sangalakhule kanthu. yakhulilatu anakumate mphula pakamwa.