CSOs threatens to urge Malawians against tax payment: Give JB 30 days ultimatum
Malawi Civil Society organisation have asked the government of President Joyce Banda to swiftly act on what they call governance lapses within 30 days or risk a campaign against citizens from paying tax.
The group operating under the resuscitated umbrella called Grand Coalition has faulted the JB government for being “seen to be irresponsible to tax payers.”
“The civil society might consider mobilizing Malawians against payment of taxes in whatever form should the government not take steps to deal with the alarming looting of public resources,” reads a communiqué signed by 16 organisations include Catholic CCJP, CONGOMA, CSEC, HRCC, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP).
Other groups are Centre for Youth and Children Affairs (CEYCA), Citizens for Justice (CFJ), Civic and Political Space (CPS), Church and Society – Livingstonia Synod, Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO GCN), The Governance Platform (GP), Malawi Justice Economic Network (MEJN), Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and Malawi Congress for Trade Unions (MCTU).
In their petition, the Grand Coalition has raised the issue of high level corruption in the public service, lack of clear sense of direction on maize scarcity, executive arrogance; continued problems in the health care system and national security lapses as “serious matters that require urgent leadership attention.”
The leaders of the Grand Coalition told reporters in Lilongwe that they would want government to address the concerns within 30 days.
Speaking at the news conference , Jacob Nkhambule of CCAP Livingstonia Synod Church and Society said Malawians would not be paying taxes “just to enrich the privileged” while there is lack of quality services of the general populace.
Council for Non-Governmental Organisation (CONGOMA) chairperson Voice Mhone, Benedicto Kondowe of Civil Society Education Coalition, Chris Chisoni of Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace National Secretary and Human Rights Consultative Committee Director Baldwin Chiyamwaka were some of the speakers at the news conference.
They also challenged the ruling PP to bring evidence on how they have managed to acquire so many party vehicles in just 18 months and questioned the credibility into the investigations of the shooting of budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
