Increase in State House budget by K600mil, Malawi army allocations up: Cuts in VP office, ACB no additional resources
The budget allocation for State Residences has been increased from K5.3 billion to K5.9 billion but allocation to the Office of the Vice President have been cut from K5.04 billion to K4.8 billion, according to the 2016/17 national budget review.
Malawi government needs to win back the confidence of donors, who are withholding 40% of budgetary support following allegations of corruption and systematic looting of state resources by senior civil servants and politicians.
Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe presented a reduced midterm budget statement in Parliament from K1, 1492 trillion to K1.129 trillion.
Gondwe said on Monday that government is optimistic of economic rebound this year.
“We cautiously submitted that the economy will recover soon,” said the Finance Minister in Parliament in his winding up statement on the debate of the midterm budget.
“Implementation of the budget has been successful, apart from the problems in Fisp (Farm Input Subsidy Programme) and maize purchase,” said Gondwe.
The review has seen Treasury not giving additional resources to Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) maintaining its K2 billion allocation.
But there is an increase to military spending with Malawi Defence Force (MDF) given additional funds from K20.9 billion to K26.7 billion.
Malawi Police Service has also an increased funding from K22.9 billion to K28.1 billion.
There is also increase to Ministry of Health from K95.2 billion to K101.7 billion; Ministry of Education has an increase from K146.2 billion to K150.8 billion.
Finance Minister said “despite doubts” from some members, the government “look forward to the next half of the financial year with confidence.”
The House will start vote by vote scrutiny of allocations on Tuesday.
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The country budgets k28 bn for its defence and k5 bn for its president. This is stupid when education and heath for the country of 17 mil is only just over £100 bn each, how should one person or one job role cost all that.
Let us pray. Ambuye munati adzadya koma sadzakhuta. Kwanilitsani mau anu Ambuye. Take from the evils what belongs to the poor. Ponyani achule mnyumba zawo. Amen
Six hundred million more for state houses while hospitals have no enough basic equipment and drugs. Zachisoni .Why so many state houses for a small and poor country like Malawi . Economically, well to do countries like South Africa , Botswana, Angola etc don’t have many state houses let alone palaces. Yet, these countries have a larger territory for their presidents to cover when they travel for their engagements in the country. One way we are squandering the tax payers money is by keeping too many houses for one person in the name of palaces and state lodges.
This Vice President position is just the same as ball boy ndithu. Kuyendera ma floods mu Lilongwe, Salima etc basi Zonvesa chisoni kwabasi ntchito imeneyi. If a DPP position imeneyi ayi. Wathu ndi Che Mutharika basi.
Ombudsman is already underfunded, why cut its budget? you want to paralyze its operations?? shame on you Goodall and ur DPP Govt.
WHAT IS THE SHARE FOR YOU ALL DPP GURUS?