MP Lunguzi says children dying of hunger in Malawi: Queries on ‘missing’ $156mil from Indian bank
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Dedza East member of parliament, Juliana Lunguzi has said the Peter Mutharika government should stop living a lie that no one will die of hunger in the country, saying already four children have starved to death in her constituency.
Lunguzi said in parliament that four “kids” have died with hunger-related illnesses and the situation is not getting any better.
“I want to register and repeat here that in Dedza East, now we have registered four deaths. And when I say this, Honourable Members, I am not saying you have killed the kids. What I am saying is: because we have hunger, somebody has died. So we need to understand each other so that we can go and seek solutions,” said Lunguzi.
Health officials in Dedza confirmed the deaths.
Commenting on government calls to engage into irrigation, Lunguzi said she did a research and found out that in 2008, Parliament approved US$30 million to the agriculture sector. In 2011, a loan of US$50 million was taken by government and in 2012, Malawi sourced a loan of US$76,500 million from the Indian Bank.
“In all the three loans, something was allocated to greenbelt. And when Honourable Minister was addressing us, he said that one of the solutions was to mobilise resources. I am sceptical, as a Malawian. When we mobilise these resources what are we doing with these resources? People from Dedza East are and Malawians are asking,” said Lunguzi.
“I feel that the problem is that we do not have resources. It is how we are using the resources as a country. This is laughable that for the past six years, we have taken loans amounting to US$156 million. Everyone has something on greenbelt. Where is the maize? If we are going to Zambia to look for maize when we sourced a loan as a country and we are asking the private sector and donors to give us money again, for what? Somebody knows where this money is.
“And when you read the deliberations in the reports, we all waived the Standing Order because it was urgent in view of impending climate change. Yet when you are giving us the statements today, you also say we are in this crisis because of climate change. But we already agreed on how to solve this crisis through the millions that we have allocated,” said Lunguzi.
The Dedza East MP said she will soon ask parliament to get a detailed report from the Minister of Finance and Minister of Agriculture.
“Where is the US$156 million loan from the Indian Bank? Because it is not us who will pay but the young people like me are going to pay.
“So on behalf of the young people of Malawi, I am feeling the burden of this loan. And I feel sorry for Malawi, as old people, you can keep on borrowing and asking for money. We are sending SOS that we are in a crisis. When we borrow, we don’t know what we did. We bought tractors and shared among ourselves. We can’t even account for those tractors. We claimed we have our own greenbelt programme, we can’t point at it.
“We said of the loans, through you Mr Speaker, Sir, that in Salima, Mangochi, Karonga we are going to develop irrigation programmes covering 1 million hectares and we borrowed money,” said Lunguzi.
She asked the Government Assurance Committee, the Legal Affairs Committee and the Agriculture Committee of Parliament to sit down with the Minister of Finance and Minister of Agriculture and “tell us where this money is. Otherwise, we cannot keep on borrowing. Our young people will never have good life because of us and what we are doing.”
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Some of the comments here show how some people speak simply for the sake of backing their political party. Think nationally, not in partisan terms. For those who are not well informed, J-Lu is one who is literally on the ground in her constituency, helping people everyday and really working for the people! Unlike your idiots who visit their constituents only when it is time to get votes! She has made a simple request that government accepts that there is a crisis and has a valid point that funds were borrowed to avoid this situation and we need to know why we still find ourselves in this horrifying position.
No matter how our foreign friends help us,without transparency,nothing will materialize.we are thankful for the Japanese generosity,but at the same time,we have to be pesimestic taking into account the trend of misappropriations of public funds which is the order of the day in our country.The best thing to do is to hand over the funds directly to the NGOs,giving directly to individuals in the government,is tantamount to throwing it into a sinkhole.That $156million given to the Minister of Finance Mr Yes Bwana,is already in private wallets and our suffering people will continue to suffer more.Whatever the case,the people of Malawi greatly appreciate the warm heart of Japan to the people of the cold heart ofMalawi.It is sad to note that people from far away care about our predicaments,but those in power,celebrate about our miseries.
Aghama or whatever you call yourself, understand what the Mp is saying osangoona mbali imodzi ayi. She is saying its high time the Government should come out of nutshell ndikuvomeleza kuti ku Malawi kuli njala, Cadet wa dpp iweti galu.
mai lunguzi nanga inu mukuchitapo chani kuthandiza anawo kuti asafe ndi njalayo?
mukukhalila kudzudzula boma mmesa inuso muli mboma.
this is not the time of been vocal to buy peoples votes. nndi zotheka kuti inu mutenge salary yanu nkuthandiza ena akufa ndi njalawo mmalo momangolongolola.
this is the time for love and sharing what little we have with the people who are starving.
do that sister from your heart in good faith.thats what GOD wants osamangosokosa.
when there is aproblem first try to find a solution then after mufufuze chayambitsa vutolo.
osati kuyamba mwafufuza chayambitsa musanalithetse vutolo. that is why anawo akufa.
53 a d 54 why the hate? the role of mp is not to share maize but rather to make laws. This is what the woman is trying to do. sad n painful indeed that every year we keep on borrowing for the we projects.
mai lunguzi,inutu ndinu mp.ngati ana akufa ndi njala inuyo mukuchitapo chani.everytime mumachita blame boma komatu inuso muli mboma(but opposition side).
take action adyetseni ana akusowa wakudyawo ndi salary yanu ya mwezi umodzi okha.adzichokera athu kunja kudzadyetsa(thandiza)amene alibe chakudya inu koma mungolongolola
osapangapo kathu.
ino sithawi yokuwa kuti athu adzakupatseni mavoti .its time for help from your heart.what little you have share with those who are starving.
MP Lunguzi you are wrong but you are also right.
Wrong
To say children in your area died of hunger.The facts i read were two died after eating poisonous cassava what it means is even if there was maize and at that particular time they decided to eat cassava they would have died anyway.It is disheartnening that a Health person like you can say maize is the only determinant that there is food.Dedza has lots of potatoes which is starch,carbohydrates.Why cant you encourage them to eat potatoes irish and relish.CHANGE OF MINDSET my honorable.You have been in diaspora were you living on maize yourself?I doubt.
Right
You are very right to ask about the where about of previous loans.Its high time as citizens we should be mobilising to demand answers from the so called technocrats kukapanga camp ku ministry mpaka atiyankhe .What do you think?NOT the President.That is my take.I could go on and on but let me stop here.
And Kamunthu kena kali busy kumakamba za FISP! Do u know how many people benefit from such packages and who are they?
I am an extensionist responsible for registering potential beneficiaries and beginning 2015/16 farming season ndi jackpot. out of over 1000 HIS less than 100 benefited from the package. FISP is anon starter and and a political tool for campaign. universal subsidy is the best. let real farmers benefit and help them produce enough eventually govt can come in to regulate prices for agricultural products to enable even the poorest afford them.
Fertiliser alone can’t enable farmers harvest enough there are so many factors Mr. man above.
Well done Juliana. Kodi ku Phalombe Nsanje Mwanza Mangochi kulibe ma MP?! Good things are only coming from few people over and over again. Can we develop a country like this if we have a Parliament full of idiots sitting phwii ! No wonder Malawi is not going anywhere.
This Girl is sharp. She can see things which even reports have failed to see. Lunguzi you have guts girl its pity you are in opposition . Nanga tizikhala ndi nduma kunena a Kaliati ?!
This is going overboard by requesting government to start feeding every family in Malawi. Have those accusing government for the persistent hunger gone out there to ask villagers reasons why they don’t have enough to eat and yet they have land to cultivate and grow edible crops? Did they make any efforts to work in their gardens, if they did why did they not harvest enough, was it because there was no fertilisers and if the answer is positive, are you not the same MPs who are shooting down the FISP project saying you want only government to buy maize for the people – mwaiwala kuti chaka cha m’mawa anthu omwewo adzafunanso kudya. Instead of thinking strategically you are looking at things on a constituency level, what sort of MPs are you who look at things up to the tip of your noses? Manyazi and guilty consciousness mulibe?
The vanishing of $156million is no strange.Malawians will live with it for millions of years to come.International community realise that everything is possible in Malawi and therefore our nation is directly targeted by international mafia,by the end of another decade,there will be nothing Malawians to be proud of.Malawians,watch closely: India,Pakistan and China.Wakeup from your sleep,the world has changed absolutely,trust nobody come hell,come high waters.AFRICANS WAKEUP and DEFEND our gargantuan God given rich natural resources.
This Dedza East MP is a unique breed. It would take a group of 12 to 15 DPP dunderheads to much her brains
Let them account for our taxes coz its our taxes that pays back these loans
Do not be good at criticizing the govt and yet you have skeletons in your cupboard. Can you tell the nation where the project for which you took spent the cdf is
A Julliana don’t think politics is like nursing. Ana amwalira bwanji Mp wao uli konko. You want mr president asenze thumba lachimanga kubweretsa kumeneko. Mwalephera ntchito a MP
khokhokho. Mwana wayankhula uyu.
Please marry me Julie. I like u from the deep. Stay single tiii…
Thanx 4 being courageous Juliana, we want brave pple like in parliament. Misonkho ikundiwawa kwambiri
Kodi Juliana ndiwokwatwa?
This is a woman of substance. I wish we had 20 MPs of her caliber. Bwezi zinthu zikupita chitsogolo.
auze chemwa nkhalamba zalero zimangodziwa Ku ngongola koma zifunseni kuti ndalamayo ya gwira ntchito yanji muona kuti palibe (tiuzeni what did you do with the money) muona kuti palibe tulo basi!!
At least such kinds of arguments with some knowledge of literature.
Don’t just hate the president and the ministers, hate them with facts and evidence, I support you young lady as you are claiming yourself
Honourable Lunguzi I its fair to say I am proud of you. As a generation grew up in the 80s and tha of 90, it is also fair to say that our fathers did what they could at that time for us and our children. We are, unfortunately breaking down every structure built to cater for future generations as if we have been informed that we are in fact the last generation and no one will occupy Malawi after us.
One thing I want you to encourage fellow opposite MPs that when they do their work they must learn to call a spade a spade. Malawians are lacking the zeal of saying the truth. Saying it as it is no mincing words.
My only conclusion could be that they are scared when they are next in power, people will speak of them same like we speak of these devils today. By the way, if they know they will work diligently with integrity and honesty….what is the worry , just say the truth, call it a spade if its a spade. Call it dung and not soil. We are responsible for our future generations if Malawians will have a name and history on thus earth that’s the way to ho about it.. Otherwise evidence shows that we are 90% ashamed of our past. And therefore its no use to preserve it.
I can go on forever, thats how terrible we are and irresponsible for our future and that of our children.
If the above is true then we are doomed and dammed. There is no end in sight for ” Malawi’s ” problems.
There is alot of substance in what Hon Lunguzi is trying to put forward. It is a shame that Malawi can borrow and borrow again and again without accountIng for that money. It is the ordinary citizen who bears the burden of repaying such loans yet the ordinary man hardly benefited from the loans. Our MPs should learn to be serious when deliberating issues of national importance like loans.
This is what MPs should be doing: challenging the government’s actions, questioning where grants, aid, loans have gone! Keep it up and don’t allow those in power to stop you!
True!!!!!
We will suffer and pay the pitch
Nena zoona amvetse nkhutukumbwe izi Hahahaha!
Mwanena zomveka mai
Juliana, your just fresh in mind. How I wish you replace my old MP- Min of Education in my area! he is as abscent minded like his fellow folks
extend prob to greenbelt program
Very sensible speech madam. We need answers.
For me money on climate change is just a waste. Even in the west, global warming or depletion of the ozone layer is a disputed subject.
We should concentrate on resolving the problems we have now and not imaginary problems. We need irrigation. In the west or Middle East, etc they have irrigation or advanced agriculture and plenty of food, yet they also have climate change or global warming. We don’t have food and stupidly blame climate change.
What have you done to help your people who are dying of hunger in your constituency as MP? I guess nothing. Do you have any solution to this problem? I guess you don’t have any solution. Next time begin by telling us what you have done and what you think can be the permanent solution. You got it Julian Lunguzi?
JULIE OH, KWA AMALUME AKO NIKAFIKA NDITHU, KODI NDI ATEMBO? YOU ARE A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE OSATI IZI ZA KWA NKANDO IZI – SHAME TO HER APPOINTING AUTHORITY, HOW CAN HE ELOPE IN CABINET THAT TOY, ANA MASIKU ANO AKAONA CHITHUZI CHA KWA NKANDO CHIJA AMATI ‘ AMAYI ONANI CHIDOLE CHAKWA A NEBA!’
NAMVA KUTI ATU UNAMUKANA IIIIIH MTIMA WANGA UNAKONJWA ZEDI NIFIKA TSONO LINO KE DEDZA NANENA POYERA NDI MAKUKONDA ZEDI!!
Madame Lunguzi why you are wasting your beauty and fertility on Politics you are not getting any younger,every woman has short biological clock and you are not any different.Wake up,find a good husband and have children together,a family.That will be much good for you than politics.
Eish this is bad I’m speechless,this Madala’s they don’t have this country at Heart ,all they know and do is self enrichment Bombocrat…Big up Juliana.
inept government of Malawi
I used to respect this Juliana Lunguzi thinking she will be different from other opposition MPs. But alas, little did I know that her heart is as dirty and full of jealous and envy as that of Satan. If MCP were in government today, she wouldn’t have been saying what she says today. Wabwino palibe apa.
LUNGUZI TELL THEM MAY BE THIS WILL UNDERSTAND YOU ,TO RULE A COUNTRY ITS NOT AN EASY TASK AND NGONGOLE IMAKOMA POTENGA KOMA KUBWEZERA KUWAWA YOU CAN KEEP ON BORROWING LOTS OF MONEY BUT IF YOU DONT HAVE BRAINS HOW TO USE THAT YOU CANT DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
Zimenezi ndizo zoona,nkhalamba izi zitisiyira mavuto osati masewera,ndipo kukhala chitekete zaka zikubwelazi chifukwa cha zingongole zochoruka tilinazo mmatumba mwa akanganya amenewa,
Apa ndikanakonda kuti pasakhale za ndale this is cholowa cha dziko osati za chipani.
Anthu mwachulidwa takumanani nsanga ndipo tafufuzani kuti zilkuti ndalama zatchulidwazi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Parliament had sensible people like honourable Lunguzi, we could confidently say Malawi has hope in future. Unfortunately many of them seating in the house are nothing as honourable but thieves. Learn to have consciousness and be sympathetic to your own people. Seeds you are sowing will hurt your kids more than others. It’s a disgrace, Bingu cited a song of green belt and all he managed is stealing money and some led him to his early depart on earth. Shame politicians.
this is so sad!
When I analyze every MP’s speech, all I see on what is written is about history of the events of what went wrong in the past in a blaming way. I don’t see like: ” The green belt project has had many loans attached to it such as…… We haven’t seen on how this money was spent as linked to the progress of the project related directly to the loans. Iam there fore demanding the Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Finance each to give a detailed account on the progress of this project.I want to hear when will the project be completed. I want to see a group of diverse members and not government alone to take over on monitoring this critical project and give account on milestones in every sitting in this house”.
This is perhaps what we would want to hear. I think Kachale’s speech is a good example though not detailed on the suggested plan of action to the government.
Here comes Juliana Kanthiti Lunguzi. kutokota kumeneko I doubt if one man can commit himself kuti azilowetsa ndi iyeyo. Maonekedwe abwinoko kuposa a Jessie koma kuipa mtima kofanana ndi jessie yemweyo. Kungokhalira azimai a hit and run basi, Pongopumira amuna thank ikadzaza. Shameful!
JULIE, KOMA NA JULIE UNGONDILORA, UMANDILASA, SIIZI ZAKUMULANJEZI ZOONEKA NGATI ZIDOLE, ZOMANGOBWEBWETA KUTI AZIMVEKA KUTI ADAKALI MOYO, KAYA OSANKHAWO AMAONAPO CHANI KAYA?
KOMA JULIE NKHANI NDI IMENEYO NDANENA POYERA PANO ANKOLO ANGA AKUBWERA KU DEDZA, NASANGALALA UTAMUKA ATU PAJA NAYE AMAKONDA TA SLIM NGATI INE.
yOU ARE A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE!!
Boma limeneli lalephera!
Chemwali zoona ana 4 inu ngati woyan’ganira dera wosathandizapo inunso muchite manyazi osangonyoza boma munayenera kutengapo mbali.
Now this is a woman of substance and not ena aja.
Constructive Parliamentarian. She has done a good research and knows exactly what she says, to the point. I wish we had just TWO parliamentarians of this caliber. The rest simply wast tax payers money and time. Bravo Madam Lunguzi you are exceptional.
Thanks Juliana, what you are saying has happened.
where is the money? where are the tractors? what is greenbelt project achieving? these are all good questions. where are the answers? who is accountable?
I think Lunguzi is talking sense here. its high time we start accounting for these loans ndakhumudwa.
Go! Julie Go! It doesn’t make sense. Seems we’re addicted in borrowing. We don’t feel good if we’ve not. Ya ma tractor yokhayo imandiwawa. Malawi would have moved many steps towards food security issues. Bolani moya wamkulu uja anali ndi vision in agricultural, but this thing you call “Peter” Mbola zokhazokha.
Problems will continue until we heal our soil, manage the water we are given, produce all the 6 food groups, and process and consume foods in ways that improve out health. We must balance. #Permaculture #NutritionMw
Bravo Juliana,this govt needs to be accountable.Asamangotibela amphawife
Ukunena zoona JulIana
tell them mahope. make them explain where the money went. ine ndiye ndimakusapota heavy.
Thank you Lunguzi for exposing the fraudulent conduct. Only unpatriotic dolts will refute your stand.
My favorite mps….she researches…she inquires….not these other dull mps just dozing in parliament.
wow wish we had great mind lyk you madam, thanx for thinking about the next generation . most old politicians are only making plans for themselves and there children, habouring money for themselves they dont even mind wats going to happen to us in 20 or 30 years from now because they wil be dead.
That’s my girl Juliana, like father like daughter full of life, agile and opanda mantha. Look she dares talk about tractors fraca which (some alledge) involve one of her bosses in the party. you cant beat that! That’s what MPs are there for; dusting the old hansards and auditing the passed financial bills. My lady you deserve to be an MCP running mate in 2019. Stop thinking in regional lines and act like Bingu who picked a fellow Southerner as a running mate.
Juliana,Juliana,Juliana.How many tymz have I called u.3 tymz.U Neva stop amazing me.U r our sibling president in waiting.Another woman president to b. U speak,speak and speak sense always.This is a constructive speech no so Kyungu,Lukwa,Kaomba and ur fellow chiefs?Kyungu , u pliz parade ur boys ,we want to see u pipo on MBC Tv commenting on these loans that hasn’t benefited the pipo u claim to represent.I knw u wont bcz Palibe woti akudyseni sikono.
$156 ML and still starving?? This government has Question Marks all over
Mavuto ari dziko rino ndi osatozana chala,tiyeni tigawane,kochepa komwe tiri nako,osati wina awoneke okhoza zithu zavuta kale izi,koma chachikulu tisiye mtima wozikundikira tiyeni tiwapatse chakudya athu osowa,okalamba amasiye,kaya ndinu olamula,kaya otsutsa tiyeni tibwere pamodzi kuti tigonjetse njala yavutayi.
My simple question please to you Juliana Lunguzi. What are now you doing as a member of parliament?
THATS IT JU..WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY GO? EVEN FOR ROADS WE KEEP BORROWING AND ROADS NEVER FINISH? EG PE -JALI ROAD? HOW MANY LOANS? LETS HAVE THE ANSWERS!
HEAR!HER! Ms Lunguzi. Its about time some one asked these important questions. Yes indeed we can not continue borrowing if we can not account for the borrowed money. This is why we need Muthalika to come to parliament to answer some questions. Let him explain and tell us what the government did with the money allocated for maize in the last budget. As long as we continue to let these thieves walk scot free we will forever remain in poverty. We need to hold the president accountable. We need to ask Muthalika why he has not denounced corruption as demanded by our development partners. This is our land and if we don’t do something now nobody else will. Muthalika is looting our treasury with impunity he must be stopped by any means necessary.