Goodall calls for patriotism, says all cashgate culprits to be clamped down
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe has called for patriotism as the country starts debating the zero-aid budget with the hope to get budgetary support from donors and assured that government will expose all suspects in what is known as Malawi’s Cashgate—a K13 billion public finance scandal that rocked the country last year.
Presenting his budget statement in parliament, Gondwe the nation should receive the zero-aid budget as a challenge to develop the nation with economic independence.
“Our aim must be to erase this constant and irritating cliché which repeatedly says that ‘Malawi is one of five poorest countries in the world,” Gondwe told parliament.
“As the first parliament of the coming half century, let us begin to address this challenge with the passion of patriotism,” he added.
He said the creation of institutions that are necessary in the governance of an independent country is one of the important accomplishments of Malawi , 50 years after independence from colonial master Britain.
“Institutions such as the University of Malawi, Reserve Bank of Malawi, the Malawi Revenue Authority , Roads Authority, ADMARC, Anti Corruption Bureau and others are vital in a country. At the top and centre of these is the Civil Service.”
Gondwe noted that the Civil service effectiveness, efficiency and reliability have been compromised and have deteriorated progressively.
“The entire country was shocked with the revelations of what was involved in the ‘cashgate’ scam,” he said.
Gondwe said the executive and the legislative house, is committed to get to the bottom of the scam.
“There is a saying, honourable members, that must be applied here, ‘they can run but they cannot hide’ and ‘you can fool some people sometimes but you can’t fool all the people all the time’. The time for covering up cashgate is gone,” said Gondwe attracting applause from government benches.
Gondwe said Cashgate exerted “significant challenges” to the economy particularly on inflation and the exchange rate.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :