Chakwera tells NGOs to account for foreign currency they receive

President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has called for transparency and accountability of foreign money coming into the country for the activities of non governmental organisations.

Chakwera has since directed minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda to ensure that there are regulated systems to oversee forex that is received by NGOs in the country.

He said this on Thursday in Lilongwe when he presided over the NGO Day.

According to Chakwera, he has been informed that government is not properly accounting for foreign currency received through the NGOs, resulting in the country losing much needed forex.

He said this is not acceptable.

He said he has therefore ordered ministers of Finance and Gender to jointly engage NGO Regulatory Authority (Ngora) and the Reserve Bank of Malawi to ensure that all forex received in the NGO sector comes through regulated systems.

Earlier in his speech, Chakwera called on the NGOs to be accountable and transparent.

“As Head of Government, I need NGOs and CSOs that are credible and strong to hold those of us in public office accountable.

“But how can public officers be held accountable by organizations that are not themselves accountable?” He wondered.