Goodall stands bold on K2bn budget vote for Sports and Culture: ‘Not govt priority’

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe on Tuesday stood bold and refused to bow down to opposition legislators demand to increase the budget for Sports and Culture ministry.

Gondwe: Sports in not top priority for government
Gondwe: Sports in not top priority for government

The members of parliament were demanding a 50 per cent increase on the K2 billion budget.

However,  Gondwe, who is always diplomatic when such issues arise, told the MPs in the face that even if the vote is deferred, there will not be an increment on the vote because the government has simply no money.

“Sports is not the most of our priority. We have maize to buy to starving Malawians, we have to buy fertilizer for Fisp, I thought these are the priority areas we should be working on,” said Gondwe.

He pleaded with the MPs to understand that the government has no money and cannot raise beyond the K1.1 trillion budget.

The debate was however one sided with the opposition members of parliament taking to the floor  providing plausible critique whilst all those sitting on ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) were all silent. – sitting phwii!

Minister of Sports and Culture explained to the House that last year the vote had K9 billion because the K7 billion was for Bingu Stadium which has since been completed except for water and electricity.

As the opposition MPs kept on standing for points of order, First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje, who was chair of the committee of supply,  told them that the House could not dwell on one vote for one hour and immediately put the question for the House to approve the vote and it was immediately approved.

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