Phoya exonerates PP from Capital Hill financial mess
Minister of Lands and Housing, Henry Duncan Phoya has distanced the People’s Party (PP) led government from the plunder of cash at Capital Hill, the seat of Malawi government, saying the looting did not reflect worsening corruption under President Joyce Banda.
“This problem has been there in the past. The two previous administrations did not show any inclination to root it out. It is only President Joyce Banda administration that has shown willingness to tackle and root it out once for all,” he said.
Instead, Phoya said the unearthing of the cash gate scandal is testament that the current administration is hell bent on purging looters among its rank and file.
Phoya said this during the commemoration of World Habitat Day held in Mzuzu on Monday.
“President Dr Banda will speak on the matter at length when she comes back this Wednesday. I only commented on the matter to address some misconceptions that is linking this administration to this problem has been brought by this administration,” he said.
Phoya then urged those in political leadership and civil servants to have Malawians when discharging their duties.
The minister who diverted from his prepared speech also took a swipe at some people who are publishing reports linking what he called innocent people to the scam. He did not elaborate.
Earlier, Phoya toured Salisbury Line, (a slam township in heart of Mzuzu city) and deplored the living conditions there. The slam has no proper drainage system and has limited access to clean potable water.
The government is implementing a Slum upgrading project at Salisbury Line aimed at uplifting the living standards of the people.
United Nations Habitat Program Manager John Chome said the theme was chosen because mobility is fundamental to the functioning of cities and towns.
“This is why all who are involved in managing the cities and towns needs to pay particular attention to networks including urban mobility,” he said.
He said urban transport sector investment priorities are elitist as they favor private car owners at the expense of the majority, who walk or use other non-motorized transport.
He added that the inability to design or invest in non motorized mobility infrastructure has led to pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle conflicts on urban roads creating the conditions for increased road accidents, slow traffic flow and congestion.
The United Nations set World Habitat Day which is commemorated on the first Monday of October every year to reflect on the state of towns and cities and the basic right of all to the adequate shelter.
The day is also intended to remind the world of its responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
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