MP shares bible story in Malawi Parliament: ‘Let Mutharika follow example of Syrian commander’

Malawi Congress Party (MPC) spokesperson on finance Alexander Kusamba Dzonzi used his reaction to proposed revised national budget by citing a Biblical story to persuade government to work on improving the economy.

He blamed the country’s worsening economic woes on poor management of the monetary policy by the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM).

Dzonzi shared with the House the Bible story taken from 2 Kings 5: 1 – 27, about Naaman, the commander of the Syrian Army.

“Naaman, Mr. Speaker, Sir, was a gallant fighter, a good and skilled soldier. But he had a dreaded disease on his skin-Leprosy.  In one of his raids against Israel, his squadron carried with them an Israelite girl that became a slave to his wife. One day, the Jewish slave girl asked her madam to advise Naaman to seek help from the prophet that lived in Samaria called Elisha. Reluctantly, the gallant soldier left for Samaria and when Elisha heard of him, he just sent his servant to advise Naaman to go and wash seven times in Jordan River. And that Naaman would be cured completely of his disease. Naaman, though a decorated military commander obliged and got cured of Leprosy.,” Dzonzi told the House

He went on: “Leprosy, Mr. Speaker, Sir, is a disease that eats into one’s skin. It is not different from the snake called ouroboros that eats itself.) With the current monetary policy, the Malawi economy is suffering from Leprosy and it is destroying itself.

“ Like Naaman, it is not too late for the Malawi Government to take heed of the various pieces of advice suggesting creative measures on how to improve the economy.  Through you, Mr Speaker, Sir, the ball is now in the courtyard of the State President to follow the example of the Syrian Military commander and cure the economy.”

MCP proposed that  Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe should find a way of controlling off budget financial resources from donors, resuscitate the production sector with tangible economic interventions such as revitalising Optichem and empowering pharmaceutical companies to reduce imports on drugs and fertiliser.