Chilima warns against abuse of IMF support for Malawi Covid-19 response
State Vice-President Salous Chilima has issued a stern warning against abuse of funds allocated by government and development partners to fight the coronavirus (Covid-19), including the impending package that International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to give Malawi.
Speaking at a news conference in Lilongwe, Chilima said government has committed a lot of funds while IMF has committed to give Malawi $150 million (about K110 billion) as a direct response to help the country fight the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis which needs to be used for the intended purpose.
Chilima said he thanks IMF “unreservedly” for the funds that are part of the Fund’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT), Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) and balance of payments (BoP) support for Malawi.
But Chilima warn those handling the funds, saying, previously government and development partners have committed billions to the health sector but the money has ended up in the pockets of a few criminal cartels and corrupt politicians while the system has been crumbling down.
“These vultures are already encircling these billions set aside to save the lives of millions of Malawians in this pandemic. To them, this is an opportunity to get rich quick. I must warn you that we are watching.
“We shall hold you all personally liable … if your criminal acts lead to the needless and avoidable deaths of innocent Malawians,” said Chilima.
He said it is is immoral to make money on this pandemic and on other people’s misfortune.
Commentators have also agreed that government should use the IMF emergency financing relief prudently to offset the effects of the virus pandemic.
IMF Resident Representative Farayi Gwenhamo confirmed the impending fiscal relief.
“In direct response to the COVID-19 crisis, our board has adopted some immediate measures to enhance CCRT which will enable Malawi and other poor nations have some debt relief,” Gwenhamo told journalists in the capital Lilongwe late Tuesday.
Through such response, she said, IMF hoped that most vulnerable member countries would channel more of their financial resources to vital emergency medical and other relief efforts.
The country’s private-owned newspaper The Nation in its editorial comment also said Malawi can now show that it appreciates the gesture to IMF by putting the money to good use.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Just shutup already. You know nothing but talk.
I wish we had this man as a country leader. Very competent.
This thief who enjoys the benefits of an office he doesn’t work a day in his life in?tchulani wina Mbava iyi ayi.
If Chakwera is having Chilima as his vice (if God allows) ali pa moto, Chilima salola Shine imudutse..mudana sikale
Hon Chilima, please be realistic nothing you say or do can stop APM and his band of corrupt thieves from enriching themselves from funds intended to fight Covid 19. Sadly you have not been open and transparent about the corruption in APM’s government and if truth be told also about the methods of rigging of used by APM/DPP in elections which you had promised to tell the nation you would do.
We Malawians have short memories and little or no expectations from our politicians because otherwise we would be concluding that you Hon Chilima have so far not repeat not been honest with us. So be it APM, Rev Chakwera, Atuple Muluzi or you Hon Chilima there is nothing good we can expect from you lot. You are all corrupt and clueless of how to serve the people of Malawi. Failures the whole lot of you. Failures and worse still corrupt failures.
Please Hon Rev Chakwera listen to the wisdom In Darkness Democracy Dies words for this man Chilima is power hungry, he is wants to be the President of Malawi. You will find from day one that Chilima’s hunger for power cannot be met just by being a Vice President. He will be out to destroy you from day No 1, then wait for the next elections aim for the Presidency. You if you win Rev Chakwera will be a one term President for the following term Chilima will be going for he President’s p[osition.
What is wrong with that? Competition will mean that Mr. Chakwera should be on his toes. That is the point to democracy and capitalism. In the old days Kamuzu simply killed his competitors, Chakwera does not have the same luxury
Inu anakutumani ndi ndani kuti mulankhule ,.
But Chilima is like m’tsikidzi. Kodi tidzimvera za iwe lova. Stupid.