Malawi fiscal chief refuses to resign in K4bn saga: Goodall begs CSOs for ‘talks’ at Capital Hill
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, has said he has np intention to step down as Cabinet minister which some civil society organisations members have demanded over the controversial K4 billion impending disbursement to legislators but has invited the activists pushing for his ouster to a meeting on Wednesday.
According to a letter dated March 12 2018 seen by Nyasa Times, Gondwe has invited Executive Director of Youths and Society (YAS), Charles Kajoloweka, Timothy Mtambo of Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Gift Trapence of Centre for Development of People (CEDEP) to a meeting at 2pm Wednesday at the Ministry of Fnance headquarters in Lilongwe.
Reads Gondwe’s letter nin part: “I have noted with regret facts being mispresented on the matter ‘K4 billion Parliament saga’ now in the public domain. In order to share with you accurate information, I wish to invite you to an interface meeting.”
The invitation to talks have come at a time when CSOs have demanded the immediate resignation of Gondwe as government’ s purse-keeper and gave President Peter Mutharika seven days to fire Gondwe and his Ministry of Local Government and Riral Development counterpart Kondwani Nankhumwa for their role in the K4 billion unbudgeted funds.
The CSOs have questioned government’s logic in giving MPs the money when they are at the centre of abusing Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and threatened to take the matter to court and the streets with mass protests if the President failed to sack the two Cabinet minister
When asked if they have received the said letter and if they are ready to meet with the Minister, Kajoloweka said :”We are in receipt of said request. Our team will meet and advise on the Minister’s request . This is a serious matter of public interest that cannot be taken for granted.”
The President also said it is not seeking the fiscal chief’s resignation, which was also demanded by leader of opposition in Parliament.
Presidential spokesman Mgeme Kalilani said the CSOs needed to vent their anger on MPs who approved the said package.
He reminded the CSOs that the role of the Finance Minister in public funds appropriation is to present and where need be, explain appropriation proposals before Parliament.
“In the case of the constituency project funds allocations, the whole House, including the opposition side, approved it. How then should the Minister of Finance be blamed for a decision that our members of Parliament collectively made?
“I find the call for the Minister of Finance to resign or get fired on the basis of the project funds allocations completely ridiculous,” he said.
Capital Hill has argued that the money, termed quick grant project, is meant for rural development.
At first, the money was reportedly earmarked for only 86 constituencies belonging to the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators and those who supported the quashing of the Electoral Reforms Bills in Parliament last December. Each constituency was earmarked to receive K40 million.
But after Malawi News exposed the issue and debate ensued, Nankhumwa, as Leader of the House, said the money would be distributed equally among the 193 constituencies, with each constituency receiving K20 million.
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You should not forget that the tactic of DPP is to call for a meeting in order to frustrate the efforts of the watchdog. Kajoloweka and Trapence , you should have learnt from the funds the city councils donated towards the Blue Night which you demanded should be returned. Ntaba and team fooled you.
Nanunso a Mgeme nanunso mwayamba kukala mtima etiiiiiiiiiiiii! Ah aahahahahahahahaha, mpakana: “I find the call for the Minister of Finance to resign or get fired on the basis of the project funds allocations completely ridiculous” Mgeme mpaka completely ridiculous? Ukuoneka mpamvu nawenso zakhodzokela kufikira kuti sukuuona cholakwika! If we are to go bank into the 2017-2018 APPROVED BUDGET, Mgeme, which vote has this money? Did parliament allocate the K4 billion you are defending to any vote? Which page Mgeme? Sincerely, the act is on its own providing Malawians with volumes and volumes of information as regards how our taxes are… Read more »
Miserable old bloodsucking fool
Gogo iwe ukufuna ukawadyetse chibanzi, you lost my respect when you came out of your political retirement which you announced voluntarily. I think chilipo chimene ukubisa coz what I have seen in you nowadays is that you are too old to hold such a demanding position as you can barely stand on your own. You and your fellow GOGO at State House are not supposed to lead us.
Does he appoint himself as minister? How many people have come out of political retirement? Are they ministers?
I have never been able to understand this kind of logic, a Minister is pointed. How come if he is so bad, all the presidents in Malawi have appointed him minister adviser, secretary to the treasury(when that was a respected office) so all those times he was imposing himself.
Ndikuwona ngati wina apepelapo apa ndinkhani imeneyi. Liwu loti kuba kapena kolapushoni tikamangoligwiritsa ntchito penapaliponse kwa azitsogoleriwa mapeto ake a ACB mwina nawonso satitenga serious.
The young man Goodal Gondwe wants to bribe SCOs at capital hill. The best thing is not to go for that meeting. These guys are tricksters who want to buy their way through …. Just go home and do some farming.
My friend their target is not even corrupting the CSOs no……………………………………………!! Remember how Mbendera and George Bakuwa died!! Anakafera kuti? Anawaitana ndani? Kunali ndani kumeneko pa nthawi imene amafa?
So if these CSOs aponda mwala nde apite ndithudi………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………!
Executive Director of Youths and Society (YAS), Charles Kajoloweka…you are the MAN tiye nawo onse akuba
I urge you Honourable Gondwe not to resign. Sit in your position for a little while, so that you can suffer the consequences of your wrong doings. Let people castigate, demean you and live unsettled life. Blood pressure from stress should be order of the day. That is probably the best punishment you can ever get; otherwise resigning would mean that nothing will happen to you and you’ll end up enjoying the money you have siphoned from the public purse in peace
I urge you Honourable Gondwe not to resign. Sit in your for a little while position so that you can suffer the consequences of your wrong doings. Let people castigate, demean you and live unsettled life. Blood pressure from stress should be order of the day. That is probably the best punishment you can ever get; otherwise resigning would mean that nothing will happen to you and you’ll end up enjoying the money you have siphoned from the public purse in peace.
Apparently Hon. Dr Gondwe knows the ‘K4b saga’ is in the public domain, why is he selecting who gets accurate information. Are the CSOs more deserving to use the information than the parliament?
Hon Gondwe should know who gets what information, otherwise za ma bodza ai