Cdedi protests change of financial year: ‘Democracy demands that leaders should consult the governed before effecting changes’
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has protested the decision by the Tonse Alliance-led government to change the fiscal year from July—June cycle, arguing it was made without a nod from the people who put the administration in government.
However, CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa, who addressed journalists in Lilongwe on Thursday, acknowledged that President Lazarus Chakwera has not violated any law by making such a paradigm shift in policy direction.
Namiwa made the remarks when he address the media in Lilongwe a day after the Tonse government announced the change to the fiscal year.
He said although it is not very strange for governments make policy changes, his organization was of the view that relevant stakeholders should have been involved through a thorough consultative process.
“We, at CDEDI, believe that in a modern day democracy, deliberate efforts should have been made to create space for stakeholders’ consultations before government came up with such a drastic change in policy which will require amendments of some acts of parliament to accommodate the same. It is even more mind boggling when one looks back at the history of one of the major alliance partners, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Malawians of good will should be worried with the current trend of making dictatorial policy shifts, which if left unchecked, it will set a very bad precedent, under the disguise of using the privilege of executive powers,” he said.
He challenged Chakwera to bring forward evidence that his government made consultations with relevant stakeholders before coming up the decision.
Namiwa warned that should the President fail to produce such an evidence, CDEDI will move the courts to stop government from implementing the policy shift until such a time when thorough consultations will have been done.
He also questioned the Tonse government’s decision to close borders without consulting relevant stakeholders.
“CDEDI believes such a decision should have been made with the relevant stakeholders who are likely to be directly affected, such as the revenue collection bodies and other business operators that are involved in cross border trade. CDEDI is further challenging the Malawi government to learn from the neighboring country Tanzania on how they managed to contain the pandemic without tampering with the boarders, and immediately rescind its decision for the same reason of infringing on the economic rights of those people whose livelihoods depend on cross border trade. CDEDI will again move the courts in the event that government decides not to rescind its decision,” said Namiwa.
On the other hand, the CDEDI boss regretted that Malawians will be celebrating Christmas and the New Year festivities ‘with the shocking revelation of increased domestic debt which has the potential to push up the inflation rate, the lending rate and by extension increased cost of living, a development that will eat away disposable cash and in the process push more people into poverty’.
He said these circumstances could easily be contained if Chakwera stood firm on his promise to control unnecessary expenses such as external travels and the unjustifiable local travels.
he President said in the spirit of Christmas, he would like Malawians to reflect on the big message behind Christmas as he hopes this Christmas ends the present year on a cheerful note and make way for a fresh and bright New Year.
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osati RBM ati kusintha maonekedwe a k1000 .zoona.
Kabambe
Mnchakulu anazipanga cashgate ovutika ndife anthu wamba.
musintha kangati ngati mmapanga ugalu umeewu mmayam ba ndi inu nomwe.mxiii
I have not seen dollar or pound face changing agalu inu.
This organization is better dead. You are trying to be relevant where you are irrelevant. Go and fight for something bigger. If you have a liquid money, go and help the government build better primary schools around the country. No so called NGOs has ever come out to commend government when it has done something good.
CDEDI, we know you want to become the next HRDC, however you need to pick relevant issues to fight for not every Jim and Jack. Nokha you acknowledge kuti government needs to practice fiscal discipline yet you want the same government to be consulting even on very straight forward issues like this one. Please, Mr CDEDI leader get a life and start fighting relevant battles. Why not fight for the reduction of presidential powers if you have nothing else to fight for.
Namiwa is a DPP agent.
Just as Trapence etal of HRDC to MCP.
Do checks and balances on real issues, please. We know you want to make the organisation relevant but this is not the way to it
This organization checks and balances will make Malawi a better place to live.Namiwa and your team thumbs Up!
If I can remember this quest for change of financial calendar was followed by a statement saying parliament will have to deliberate on the same. Parliamentarians represents the people if they do their job properly you will be accommodated and represented by them.
The fiscal year was changed mainly to coincide with the farming season, so I believe.
You have not sold your ideas why you think this was inappropriate. And you go on to say that the government has not brocken any law. Please be specific.
As a matter of interest ,is that organisation funded by the taxpayer.
Akuthoka ndowe 🐂
The question is, if you are among the people to be consulted, are you likely to disagree with the decision that’s been made? If the answer is ‘no’, then get over it and move on. But this talk of ‘we demand this and that..’ will not take you anywhere. My point is, if the decision is the right one, consultation or not, agree with it. If it is wrong, consultant or not, disagree with it. Case in point, remember there was wide consultation on the change of flag by the Bingu administration. Despite the consultations, the decision was wrong. Joyce… Read more »