Friend indeed, US pledges K39bn food aid to Malawi

United States of America has become the first country to pledge relief food to Malawi a day after President Peter Mutharika declared a state of national disaster.

US ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer said on Wednesday her country will make available K38.5 billion for the relief food.

However she demanded transparency and accountability from the government officials handling the relief food saying the US wants the food to reach the targeted  vulnerable.

“It is a hard decision that the President has made. The President has showed leadership in declaring Malawi a disaster nation. This makes it easier for me to ask for help from Washington,” she said..

She said there is also need to plan for the future, suggesting the persistent food shortages will continue for a longer period.

Donors no longer trust Malawians as they have the history of plundering donor money or diverting for an initial agreed upon project to another.

Police are yet to arrest over 70 workers of ministry of Health who a few months ago swindled billions of money for the US funded Centre for Disease Control through dubious allowances.

The government is also yet to act on over 100 civil servants involved in a multi-billion ministry of agriculture scam.