Lunguzi says DPP govt must behave: ‘Donors are skeptical’

A behaviour challenge on treating cooperating partners has been issued to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government by opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Dedza East Parliamentarian, Juliana Lunguzi.

Lunguzi appealed to government not to cross path with donors responsible for procuring the country’s drugs.

“What I would love to see therefore, and to hear, is a pledge that the Executive will behave in a manner that ensures that donors will not be placed in a position to desert us again, especially now that the Executive, in as far as the supply and availability of drugs is concerned, has put all eggs in one basket,” Lunguzi said in parliament.

Lunguzi, who is also the chairperson of Parliamentary Health Committee, was contributing to debate on the 2014/15 national budget,

She told the House that most health facilities lacks basic necessities like electricity, running water, protective wear due to inadequate funding.

The total budget allocation to the health sector in national budget under scrutiny is K65.2 billion.This includes allocations to Ministry of Health, District Councils and National AIDS Commission.

The Ministry of Health owes various suppliers of goods and services about K5.7 billion and government had committed to a schedule of payment starting from the 2014/15 national budget.

The Dedza East MP said donors are “skeptical” , saying “they don’t want their money to be used for [paying arrears.

Lunguzi asked for more funding, saying the proposed allocation to the health manifestly inadequate/

“The budget that has been allocated will not suffice because as we speak, QECH owes suppliers MK359 million with the unpaid water bill amounting to MK140 million. Water is life, and hence at QECH, lack of water would be a national catastrophe,” she informed the House.

Lunguzi said government should desist from “banking too much” on donors when it comes to health sector funding.

Donors, the lawmaker pointed out, can be “unpredictable” not by design but because of “our inability to sustain positive relationships with them”.

Malawi is this year running on a zero-aid financial plan after donors stopped budgetary support due to financial malfeasancein the public coffers.