Jooma trashes ‘irrational’ K7bn Malawi housing subsidy
Former economic planning minister Ralph Jooma has described the K7 billion budget allocation to the subsidized cement and iron sheets programme by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)as irrational, saying the figure is astronomical and misplaced priority.
The Mangochi-Monkebay parliamentarian remarks follows what leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera said that government should have instead provided private sector incentives for production of cement and iron sheets.
In his contribution to the 2014/2015 budget in parliament Tuesday said government should consider subsidizing other national services such as health, education and water.
“We have had subsidies in this country but if there is one subsidy that is more irrational, it is this one: the one that will be used to buy iron sheets and cement,” said Jooma.
“When the nation is subsiding water, millions of Malawians benefit. When the nation is subsidizing health, agriculture, and education; millions of Malawian citizens benefit. Even at the time when this nation was subsidizing electricity and fuel, millions of Malawians were benefiting,” said Jooma.
He noted that K7 billion will be used on 11,000 families the whole country: “I have done my calculations. In five years how many families? So many Malawians will suffer!”
Jooma further said that the poor families “are simply waiting to get the coupons and sell to the well-to-dos who can be able to match that allocation and buy the iron sheets and cement. This is not going to work.”
In the house, the matter has received criticism including Lilongwe East MP Ezekiel Ching’oma who said the impact of the subsidy would be negligible considering that only 100 people would be targeted in each of the 193 constituencies.
He said when DPP was campaigning; they never said the subsidy would be targeted, but changed tune after winning the vote.
Said Ching’oma: “It means that for each constituency, there will be 500 beneficiaries by the end of the five years. It has to be noted that 80 percent of Malawians live in poor housing, in this way the impact of this programme, after five years, will surely be close to negligible.”
Rumphi West MP Jacqueline Kouwenhoven said the new subsidy would just create a new dependency on the part of Malawians.
She said: “When we start building houses for people, next they will look to government for other areas. That K7 billion could have gone into health care or education and people would be better helped through this.”
Dowa East MP Richard Banda said the new subsidy “should have been pended until our economy was manageable.”
Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Goodall Gondwe is expected to respond to observations on the budget before Parliament rises.
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If indeed our MPs are people’s representives, they must accept the fact that this type of subsidy( cement and Iron sheets) has to go back to the drawing board and better still be burried for a while. Campaigning and Governing are two different things. The realities on the ground don’t favour the implementation of this unrealistic campaign promise as the would be beneficieries cannot afford the cost of a bundle(ntolo) of grass. This is a big test to a listening government!
7billion for 11000 people….
4,7billion for nearly 200 people…
If the MPs present the interest of Malawians which one between the two were they supposed to say NO??
(The Rich *MPs* exploits the poor always)
WINA KUMANGA ZINYUMBA KU MIDZI KUTI ANTHU AZIGULA, KOMA MALO AKHALE ANTHU AKUMUDZI AMENE A KUFUNA NYUMBA ZOGONAMO.
How does this compare with amai’s’a house’ for on old person in a village/contituency?
The main problem is that the majority is illiterate only used during campaign. The educated are uncivilised aligned to tribes. The whole country is too Stupid lead by Too Greedy leaders blessed by a clergy that prays 4 money. Shame on this Stupid Nation!
It can be a good contribution but whenever you look at the one contributing it doesn’t make any sense. Most of these are fortune seekers. Today that party tomorrow another party.
Chimwemwe, I think you are too prejudiced. Malawi cannot develop with your mentality. In arguments, you consider presentation of facts, not personality.
This is just political gain for DPP members. This is what happens in a country that has no national development plan. Each party ends up bringing in things that would help its members at the expense of the whole country. It is not parties that Malawi lacks but people who have the interest of the nation above their own interests and understand what democracy is all about.
The idea of subsidies makes political sense and economically, nope!!!
Please withdraw that stupid subsidy, why not subsidizing secondary education?
Why does Gondwe not think properly now? He knows that it is foolish to subsidise building materials when the budget is tight. If anything, why not subsidise water in traditional housing areas of cities to ensure everyone has clean water. Yes, the DPP is a party led by street sweepers.