Leave Goodall alone: Some CSOs merely seeking relevance over K4 billion ‘payout’
Some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country are planning to organize nation-wide demonstrations aimed at forcing the resignation of Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe for allegedly orchestrating the ‘K4 billion payout’ to Members of Parliament (MP).
The CSOs led by Gift Trapence and the usual suspects of Timothy Mtambo, Charles Kajoloweka, Billy Mayaya and Robert Phiri, among others, have decided to pin down the whole issue on Goodall Gondwe. They don’t mind the fact that despite initial inconsistencies, the issue was debated and rectified by Parliament. It is not the first time these CSOs have demanded the resignation of Goodall Gondwe.
It must be noted, however, that there is no single MP who has received any money or part of the K4 billion in form of cash. This money will be channeled to each of the 193 constituencies in this county as Constituency Development Fund (CDF) through the Ministry of Local Government, and will go directly as payment to suppliers of materials that are used for various development projects in constituencies such as cement, steel or timber. It is not some high personal largesse into anyone’s pocket.
It must also be noted that K4 billion has not been disbursed yet to MPs; it is more of an issue that was debated and agreed upon by Parliament. It is a matter that is only awaiting the implementation of a collective decision. In this case a collective decision of Members of Parliament from government as well as opposition, including the Leader of Opposition and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, Lazarus Chakwera.
His (Chakwera) constituency is also among the constituencies to benefit from that money. If MPs had thought this channel of development was unnecessary and that it was wrongly constituted, they could not have accepted and approved the disbursement. They had the time and power to reject the money, and no-one was going to make a fuss about it. The mere fact that they approved the disbursement underlines consensus between government and opposition, which may also imply that the issue is important hence drawing common ground from both sides of the isle.
It is, therefore, illogical for CSOs in this country to organize whole demonstrations against a collective decision on which government and opposition are finding common ground, and one that represent a concerted view of the majority. For what benefit is the march being organized and for who? If CSOs claim to represent the people, MPs also represent the people, and MPs went a step further of being elected by the people they represent, it is not clear who elected the concerned leaders of CSOs. Now who are the CSOs representing, and which civil society is which?
The CSOs have obviously gone a notch too far and the way they are doing it is as though MPs, led by Goodall Gondwe, sat down one Sunday morning and decided to share a cool K4 billion cash from treasury amongst themselves to deepen their pockets. The alarm that CSOs are raising is just disproportionately high relative to the issue on the ground and very unnecessary.
In fact, the CSOs are to blame for misrepresenting this issue to the public as some kind of a cash heist resulting in many people thinking MPs have just shared and gone away with the ‘cash’.
Most Malawians are aware that a majority of the so-called CSOs are just briefcase organizations that are furiously struggling for relevance. As such they are always sniffing for ‘activity’ regardless of significance as long as they find something to write to their donors on ‘activities done so far’ to unlock more aid. This is not about Malawians or the ‘civil’ as they are trying to make the world believe. It is very much about filling their own pockets and a struggle for survival.
CSOs in Malawi should begin to develop a habit of consulting the people first before making abhorrent decisions that also often end up being an embarrassment to themselves. Most Malawians do not think these CSOs consulted the people on this one, because this money is for development, which will directly benefit the people. And how would they have presented the issue to the people? “Government has given you money for development, and we want to stop it because it was badly given?”
Typical of revolutions around the world, it is the people; the masses who own demonstrations because they are passionate about the collective concerns. It is not about making office decisions based on vested personal interests. If anything, the so-called CSOs should start lobbying for a transparent framework of disbursing such funds to ensure they go to intended projects and beneficiaries.
CSOs must also start thinking about better and effective ways of lobbying government than the tried and failed method of demonstrations. They have tried it before and so far it is only often the usual ‘hype and fade’ and on to another demonstration cycle with the same methods and the same people.
How are CSOs hoping to get different results this time when they keep repeating the same things? Why should CSOs want to go out of their way to make Goodall Gondwe the fall guy of an issue that is not of his making? Why have they decided to pick on Goodall? Is he the soft spot?
Goodall is obviously old and will most likely retire from service soon, but we have to give it to him; he has been of valuable service to this country and his performance has always been above average. He is the one largely credited for the stellar economic performance of the late Bingu wa Mutharika era, when this country registered annual GDP growth of about 7-8% second only to Qatar.
His performance under President Professor Peter Mutharika is also star-rated, and it is only fair that we give him the respect that he deserves. Goodall must be allowed to end his song on a high note when that time comes, not the embarrassment that these CSOs are spoiling to cultivate
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the true does not need to be defended. if Goodall was sincere with this allocation, this could not have gone this far. we have heard different versions of the same story from him about the source of this money. the issue of development is neither here nor there but what Malawians want is sincerity. if goodall had any morals left in him the best he would have done was just to offer an apology and indicate that the issue will be sent back to parliament for retabling. He loses nothing by just apologizing for overlooking some details and underestimating our thinking capacity. while i dont agree with demonstrations, i would propose that CSOs should just insist on Gondwe to ensure that there is always transparency in handling public resources.
Wongani Chiuta a DPP diehard. U think we don’t know
It’s because of irresponsible journalism like this that we have a now country sliding deep into poverty by each passing day. This is neither child’s play nor an opportunity for a mediocre journalist to make himself relevant!
Look, Goodall intentions for the K4 billion scam was malicious, ill-timed, and immoral. Unless wina ndi crook, it’s inappropriate to allocate such huge sums of money for unplanned activities ati za EXPERIMENT???
MASANJE ndi budget in the world’s most poorest country? My FOOT!
Who is seeking undue relevance here?
SHAME on ALL THIEVES!!!
@ Chilungamo
What can I say ?, I trust that this sycophant called Wongani would read this well structured comment. Surely it pains so much when one tries to play on our emotions on such grave issues. The problems with this Wongani thing and DPP in general is that they are so much into thievery and abuse of public resources such that they look at this as a minor issue. Please Wongani what Goodall and Nankumwa did was not a trivia . It was a grave act of criminality that no sane person would stand in the sun to defend. It’s utter stupidity and carelessness . Once again well done chilungamo for a comment well presented and put.
Yes you can rate Goodal Gondwe as a star performer at your own lack of information about how evil this man is. First it was the Kutengule issue where Goodal opened an account only known to him and Kutengule. Second it was the 2005 Fisp, MSB bank, David Whitehead, issuing Forex License to Chaponda, involved in Margate now the 4 billion Kwacha. This man is a core thief hiding under having worked for the world bank.
VUTO NDILOTI MMALAWI MUNACHULUKA MBUZI ZOKHAZOKHA,MAKAMAKA TRIPANCE AND KAJOLOWEKA NDICHIFUKWA CHAKE AMAGONANA AMUNA OKHAOKHA KAAMBA KOSOWA UMUNTHU NANGA TANGOGANIZANI BUDGET INAPANGIDWA PASS NDI APHUNGU MA CEO AKULIMBANA NDI GONDWE IS THAT MAKING SENCE?SHOULD WE SAY THESE GYZ R DRIVING MALAWI TO A BETTER FUTURE? AND IS IT FAIR FOR A TRUE MALAWIAN TO SUPORT THESE IDIOTS?LUCKY ENOUGH POTI NDIMAKHALA KUNJA BUT ONE DAY IWILL B THERE TO DELATE THOSE IDIOTS AND STUPIDTY WILL B BURRIED FOR EVER.
If anything, this article seems more like a personal defense of Goodall Gondwe and am attack on CSOs than a fairly balanced news story. Very poor journalism as th article feels emotion fueled by the writer.
Wongani
You are such a pathetic person. Bluntly put Wongani you are just being stupid seriously. You can’t be doing politics on issues of budget which is basically a product of our hard earned money that we pay to government in form of tax. No : you are being careless here. We can’t leave Goodall and Nankumwa alone on this. This was not money realised from blue night for a God sake. Imagine that poor woman in the village who has to give part of her hard earned 1000 to government in form of vat or tax in general and you guys use that money to reward one another for doing politics ? Really?what happened to your morality,humanity and spirituality Wongani?. Don’t use parliament discussing the issue as an excuse here becuase what we are interested in here is how the whole thing came to the fore. The best you can do is to remain silent on some of these issues otherwise you make us angrier when you sycophants stoop so low to justify a crime against Malawians and sin againt God. Please Wongani stay quiet to avoid earning the wrath of Malawians. It hurts surely
This article sounds childish, emmotional, probably written by some Guy very close to our old man “supposed to be enjoying his money with his grand children somewhere in Mzimba today”, or one of the firemen in the DPP “wozimitsa moto”. People are stealing in the name of the most sacred, Jesus Christ. This authour is trying to brainwash us. Probably if he, convinsingly explained why, without approval from the natinal assembly, government decided to give the money to selected MPs, coincidentally, almost all MPs that voted against the elections reform bills. It is good that this transaction was revealed. Our leaders are careless, probably heavy ladden with power that they imagine they are not accaountable to the nation. Mr Gondwe, everyone knows the history, is a great man. However the stings of politics and age have greatly overwhelmed his great brains. I dont think CSOs are after Gondwe. Without this, goverment will syphone billions of money with no trace left behind. Youths, whistle blow to stop these old people to leave us in poverty when they die. They are grown old men. Lets stop them from abusing our country. If malawians will endorse this DPP again, we are yet to see light at end of tunnel.
Sniffing for action….. Ok. Is it wrong if they sniff for action? I thought they are actually called activists? So they are actually doing their job…… These leaders should go. We need a new generation. Bribing people to write nonsense defending them instead of just doing the right thing. Tifwenge pera.
Minister Gondwe seems to be a victim of his own successes. He’s professionally disciplined, diligent and even efficient.
And there is not even a shred of evidence that corruption is involved in this money.
No surprise here that these CSOs are simply singing out loud the music conducted by their funding agencies overseas; or to put it more appropriately, the funding organisations overseas are pulling the strings of these CSOs as if they were puppets.
Bwana Gondwe, stay put! You still have much to contribute to this country.
Wongani Chiuta always write articles that leaves alt to be desired. If the aim of this article to clean up the CV of Goodall Gondwe then you have missed it. If you dont see anything wrong with the rpole Gondwe play then you are pretending to be mayopic or you are a DPP boot-licker.
The writer of this article, Wongani Chiuta is dull in the head and very stupid. Your minister should disclose the source of the money . Suppose the source is my tax money and your MPz have inflated prices I will lose. Ultimate use of the money – political campaigns, is a conclude fact because we know that suppliers of the raw materials are companies owned by the MPs or theirs in laws.
Stop fooling us
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT JUST DISMISS TRAPENCE AND COMPANY FOR THE SAKE OF IT. IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE INITIAL BENEFICIARY OF THE K4 BILLION WERE THE 83 MPs FROM GOVERNMENT SIDE. THE EXTENSION TO REACH OUT TO ALL 193 MPs CAME MUCH LATER.
SO TRAPENCE AND HIS TEAM ARE CORRECT AS THEY ARE AGAINST THE INITIAL HEINOUS BEHAVIOUR OF GONDWE AND COMPANY WHO SCHEMED THE PLAN TO REWARD ONLY 83 MPs SO THAT THEY SHOULD SHOOT DOWN THE ELECTORAL REFORMS BILLS. DPP WILL NEED THESE BILLS COME 2024 WHEN THEY WILL BE IN OPPOSITION..
THAT WAS CORRUPTION, DESCRIMINATORY, UNPROCEDURAL AND AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE FACT THAT OPPOSITION WAS DUPED AND APPROVED THE EXPENDITURE DOES NOT MEAN THE CONDUCT WAS LAWFUL.
PLEASE TRAPENSE AND MTAMBO, GO FOR GONDWE
It’s alright Wongani. You get your wish . Stick with Goodall and we shall pass our judgement May 2019. munthu ukazolowera kuba Ma million akamuzenga mlandu woba 2 million omaona ngati ulibe mulandu.
The so called Mtambo and Trapence just want to make a name for nothing. Did the old man act on his own without the approval of the parly? Didn’t he shade more light when he called for a meeting? Do you mean to tell us that you lack understanding? Is it that because you have personal vendetta with DPP regime? We don’t make a name in that way. You lack the ability to understand no wonder it wont take you anywhere.
Well another stupid thinking from you James…..what proof do yourself have that the money has been shared? Please work hard for yourself and have a life! Everyday just thinking ” anthu akugawana ndalama mu boma ” mupusa nazo zimenezo. That’s a product of njala…nthenda….nsanje. Yo national anthem. Gwilani ntchito Achimwene.
In fact Wongani Chiuta, the electorate is very angry with all parliamentarians for approving expenditure that’s way beyond what the fiscus can afford. In fact Honourable Gondwe should have known better. The very fact that it was tabled makes mockery of Gondwe’s message about tightening government belt as far as spending was concerned. Why then would he even listen to parliamentarians debating and approving an additional K4 billion of an already stretched budget. This is wny he should take the knock; As he will be forced to look for K4 billion form somewher or divert funds from other areas to fund the “Unknown local projects”. Wongani, do you understand why people are angry (with the parliamentarians but more so the Min of Finance). Sometimes I wonder whether we truly have journalists with critical thinking and analytical skills or connote skills to be able to appreciate the complex world of politics and it’s social-economic impact on citizens.
I really don’t know whether THE CSOs motive is holy or not but that doesn’t change the fact that the two ministers errored. There is a constitutional procedure which they did not follow. That’s the question. The best Goodall and Nankhumwa could have done is apologise to Malawians. Is it really difficult to say sorry we errored but our motive was good. Nankhumwa is aware that he was caught pants down. He has decided to keep quiet. Not Gondwe. He continues to lie to Malawians. Thats the problem.
We will not rest until Gondwe goes. It does not matter whether it will us years. One day with pressure and prayers he will go. We dont care whether Trapense and Mtambo are waiting to be paid. We know they survive on that but for us the National Front for the Protection of Poor (NFPP) we want Gondwe’s head. As an old and experienced man he should have told baby Nankhumwa that his plans were evil. That’s why we want him to go. Thereafter we will vie for baby Nakhumwa’s blood. This fight has just started because corruption is so engraved in DDP that without concerted effort we will not win. The vices are are great. Also while we are on this matter let us open our eyes DPP might be siphoning money behind this matter while we are busy with this matter. Remember those traitor MPs were promised money and they are waiting to be paid. In fact there is pressure on DPP to pay them.
CSOs are attention seekers. There is not reason for Goodall Gongwe to resign.
CSOs,what are u up to? Adada gondwe has contributed to Malawi and the entire world. U want him to leave the stage by force? Who are you compared to Goodall? Am not DPP member but he will stay put whether you demonstrate or not.U are too small for Goodall. Azapuma yekha pa mpandopo. Uzeleza pera wa nyamata imwe.
@ Morgan
Tsono namwi a Morgan mwaimwi uzereza uliimo tho
This issue has attracted attention from us as Malawians. My question to CSOs is: Why not taking members of parliament to task because it is a collective decision because it was debated by Honorable members and the bill passed. Why should it go personal now when these people are attacking Hon Gondwe only. At first, they wanted even Hon Nankhumwa to resign but have now stopped but are looking for the head of Hon Gondwe. This issue lacks logic by CSOs.
Because the Minister of finance, who also happens to be a member of parliament, is the custodian of the finances and therefore expected guard the limited finances with his life. He was supposed to act accordingly and tell parlamentarians that there’s no money available for projects which haven’t even been identified. Just the other day the same ministers was talking of austerity budget and had expenditure budget curtailed. How could he then come around and support K4 billion spend for non existent projects. This is the issue.
There are more questions to be answered. Cso are political parties hiding under CSO umbrella.
Don’t waste your time on MPs, they were cleverly included in this by starting a fake debate in parliament!! The K4 billion issue didn’t go through all procedures of approving a budget in parliament. After all kutereko ndalama tiziti zikapezeka nkugawiratu kenako kukapepmha chilolezo ku parliament? Nde chani chimenecho? Ndipo anayamba liti kuchita zimenezi? Sindiye kuti a china Jumbe Salima, Uladi, etc akumalandira ndalama mwa njira imeneyi? Ana a njoka inuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
@ Bristol and Wongani
You simply don’t understand the whole issue apprently because of low IQ. Do you know how the whole issue came to the fore?. Apparently you know but because of sycophancy you have deliberately chosen to look the other way. Any well meaning malawian has chosen to look at the whole issues with grave concern . Your DPP government through Goodall and Nankumwa with instruction from peter mutharika secretly allotted money from the budget to a band of MPs who voted against the electoral reforms bill. This was gross abuse of office, public trust and outright theft Wongani and Bristol. In a civilized world Goodall and Nankumwa would instantly tender their resignations and peter mutharika would apologise to the nation . Wongani and Bristol you need to know that when budget is passed by parliament it becomes law and when you any violet law you have to face justice. It had to take BNL to expose this theft otherwise it was going to through. So whether parliament deliberated the rooting is neither here nor there and that cannot exonerate the two disgraced people from being held accountable. Surrendering of cashgate property did not exonerate the cashgaters from facing the law. So Bristol and Wongani this is the issues. Mwamva. It is about what happened and transpired before the issue was exposed by BNL that we are interested in. I hope this explains everything now. If it hasn’t to you surely you should be one of them who stealing our taxes .
NO ! NO ! THESE CSOS ARE
TRUE SONS OF OUR LAND
WHY GIVING OUT MONEY
TO CONSTITUENCES WHEN
THERES NO ELECTRICITY
IN THE COUNTRY ?
YOU DPP FIELD MARSHALS
ARE THINKING LIKE DEAD PEOPLE IF EVER THEY DO
PRIORITIES ARE ALWAYS UPSIDEDOWN WHY ???
STEALING !!
THATS WHY WE NEED BUSHIRI
PERIOD
Not true sons of Malawi. I totally agree with Bristol, take to task all MPs. If it was something bad the opposition mps would have refused but they agreed. Why not calling leader of opposition to resign too. The truth is these are enemies of development. Agents of MCP hence cannot ask leader of opposition to step down too.
Kodi Gift Tripance anasiya kupanga za Geeee !
Another stupid thinking from one Wongani Chiuta. How do you know that the money is not yet disbursed? Do you have access to government daily funding figures? Do you monitor daily government expenditures from IFMIS? A lot is happening in government. I know many will disagree with this comment because they don’t how the system works.
Am sure Mtambo and colleagues they are short of cash. They usually do this to raise money, trust me these demos will not take place as they will get their own share from the K4 billion.
Analyst wa fake…….! So easy to tell you are empty in every sense of the word “empty”
Inu ndiamene mukuwononga dziko lino. Muziganizila ana ndizidzukulu zanu ndiena kutsogolo. Nkhani iyi yinakakhala kuti inabwera ku parliament poyamba penipeni ngati m’mene zimabwerera zonse sipanakakhala vuto, koma anayibweretsa itatuluka mu nyuzi, ndalamazo atazipereka kwa ma mp ochepa okha, ma mp amene akudziwika kuti anathandizila kugwetsa bill yofunika kwambiri yachisankho (aboma onse ndi a opozishoni pang’ono). Koma pano tikudziwa kuti boma lomweri limadandawula kuti ndalama zimene ma mp akulandira kale zakumadera awo zachitukuko zikudyewa ndiposo ma mp ena ali pamlandu ngati ulendo wa Mzomera Ngwira, bwanji a boma akuwaonjezera zina? Ndalamazi amafuna kuzembetsa kuti apangire kampeni. Mudziko muno muli malamulo abwino ayendetsera zonse zofunika. Palibe mp angakane ndalama zopangira chitukuko kumakwawo. Ndiye chifukwa onse anangovomera kuti m’malo mongogawira anthu pang’ono awagawire ma mp onse. Aboma atawona kuti agwidwa kale. A Gudo Gondwe akalamba kagulu kena m’mbomamu monga a Nankhumwa ndi Peter yemwe akuba ndalama kudzera kwaiwo.
You Analyst, this of these few statements and make your stupid analysis. Gudo (a baboon in shona and he looks like one) goes to parliament and tells mps and others that the government has decided to cut in most allocations of the budget because there isn’t enough money to go round in part because our money collecting agent MRA has not collected enough. Suddenly in the same house he changes tune after the paper had revealed that there was left going on in government. Ah, oh the 4 billion was given yo us by a donor we can’t mention the name. The 4 billion zinali ndalama zotsala pa pajeti. Oh we wanted to experiment by giving the 4 billion to mps for their development in their constituents. Nthawi ya Bingu okuba samadziwika or mwina anali yekha koma pano m’mboma lathu mwadzadza mbava zokhazokha. Ma million, billion akubedwawa kodi tikawapanso zaka 5 achanganyawa Malawi idzakhala yiri pati.