Malawi budget under threat, Parliament cancels meeting: Donor funded projects continue
The country’s final plan for 2020/2021 will be delayed as Parliament has postponed the budget meeting which was expected to start on May 8 due to the coronavirus threat but Treasury has instructed project coordinators and controlling officers in government ministries that workers in donor funded projects should continue working.
Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba said the budget meeting which was scheduled to be held from May 8 to June 26 has been postponed until further notice.
But the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament chairperson Sosten Gwengwe observed that despite formulating the new budget, government need to get parliamentary approvals for any alterations in the revised K1.84 trillion 2019/20 National Budget in response to coronavirus (Covid-19) impact.
Gwengwe said there was need for Parliament to regularise the bail-out package.
As part of Covid-19 response, President Peter Mutharika ordered that his salary and that of Cabinet ministers be cut by 10 percent.
Government also announced it had reserved K15 billion for Covid-19 responses, out of which K1.1 billion has since been released by Treasury.
The National Anti-Corruption Alliance also called on government to be transparent and accountable in the procurement of (Covid-19) materials and in managing resources allocated to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Treasury Cliff Chiunda has told project coordinators and controlling officers in government ministries that workers in donor funded projects should continue working even in the face of a lockdown.
“I write to advise that all donor funded projects are exempted and will continue to operate during the period in order to ensure that timelines of project implementation are adhered to,” said Chiunda in a memo seen by Nyasa Times dated 16 April, 2020.
He added that all project implementers should take precautionary measures in order to stay safe during this period.
But legal expert Ralph Kasambara has questioned the decision to cancel Parliament and let donor funded projects continue.
He said the government is sending out the message that Constitutional obligations are less important than donor obligations.
“One would have thought that that parliamentary sitting would be opportune time for Govt to hear what people are saying on the ground and also to legitimise whatever actions the Executive is taking during this COVID-19 period,” said Kasambara.
So far, 17 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the country with two deaths.
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tinali nndi buy malawi so that someone had a contract kupang nsalu, anatibela wina anadyako. Zimafika ma bwana ena kumabweza staff la friday ku ncito ati poti sanavale za citenje. so brain washed savages
lelo olo kusoka mask anthu azivala in this more populated country and lockdown taiik a pambali.
now we got the lundu ,lukwa idiota who knows not wats the meaning of this, for 300pin for 2 jours only.
atupele at this time distibuting bikes kwao komwe mma health centres mulibe zozitetezera virus. cintuco tamuonani.
bughet n finanve comitte chairman, sosten???????? kutuma khoswe kukapeleka thumba la ntedza kwa a mfumutu.
koma dzikoli ,no wonder kuli nfundo za zigzag.popanda munthu ocita zolongosoka abale inu!!!!!
Idzani AMBIYE KUZAPULUMUTSA NTUNDU WA ANTHU.
Kulemba ku kuvutatu apapa
Seen lot on POLY STUDENTS/GRADUATES I ENGINEERING INNOVATION ON HELPIMG TO CURB COVID19-KUDOS. GUYS. GOOD NEWS TO MOST OF GOODWILL MALAWIANS.
zomwe tikufuna kumva not just phwiii mmipando ,discussing non,- tangible solutions and get 300 pin .
Do some us remember this one-THE BOY WHO HARNNESED THE WIND???
Am sure noone in the parliament, bosses know of this much but guess what, the y stopped him like he could not Malawi anything anthu osaona tsogolo.. NOW HE IS BIG. and shame to those who thwarted him.
GO GO GO POLY GUYS.