Malawi govt admits failure to fund ministries, agencies: Treasury ‘regret with concern’
Malawi government has swallowed its pride by admitting that it failed to fund ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) which forced them to suspend delivery of some critical social services to the public, including healthcare, but assured that it is working hard to ensure that they are funded in time.
Secretary to the Treasury Ronald Mangani (l) and Budget Director Chancy Simwaka at the news conference -Pic-By-Govati Nyirenda
Addressing a news conference at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, Secretary to the treasury Dr Ronald Mangani, who was accompanied by the budget director alongside other senior officials from the ministry apologized to Malawians for the delay.
“The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development regrets to inform the general public that the Treasury was unable to release funding in time for the month of October. This was due to technical challenges encountered in the course of the funding process, “ said Mangani.
He said Treasury deeply “regret with concern” and reassure all government entities that “we are working hard to ensure that they get their funding in time so that they timely implement their activities as planned.”
Mangani added: “ Let me also take this opportunity to assure the general public that the Government has adequate resources to implement the Budget as approved and will continue to fund its ministries, departments and agencies as expected.”
Mangani said the ministry will continue to fund the MDAs as expected.
He did not reveal the technical problem which caused the delay in funding the MDAs.
According to published reports, several district commissioners (DCs) confirmed that operations had been suspended because Treasury is not providing the funding.
They said essential services and operations in the districts through out the country have been suspended or scaled down due to lack of funding.
Despite the delay in funding the MDAs, the public tax collector, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), reported an increased revenue collections, beating its monthly target in August 2016 by K6.2 billion.
Dr. Mangani says, “Government has adequate resources to implement the budget as approved” How Malawian is this Dr. Ronald Mangani? He seems not to be aware of our situation on the ground.
I thought some Ministries or departments are already operating at reduced budgets ……. If you have adequate resources then explain why public services are still not satisfactory.
That is good ;you cannot keep on lying.Admit that you failing to fund activities in the department.You should also remember that you have arrears for last September where you only fund a quarter of total monthly allocation.Department are failing to run because of inadequate funding.Tell us why you failed to give us enough funds in September. Let me warn you; should have good memory because you will backtrack on the lie that you are creating.We are waiting for more lies brothers.
Are ministers kept waiting for their allowances? How many months delay was there before the president received his new convoy vehicle? What is more important, a new ministerial limousine or people’s lives? Priorities!!!!
oooh too bad…sad to hear
Mangani, some of us have known you to be an honest and straightforward person but this job is slowing making you compromise on your principles. Here, for instance, you have been forced to call for this press conference just to lie on behalf of the regime that the funding delay was a result a technical glitch when everybody knows that the government is broke. Anyway tough luck!
That’s why TChuka has called a spade a spade. Malawi has got technocrats, Mangani being one of them as a renowned economist but what spoils their technical expertise is politics. They would want to please their bosses.
We need Mwadiwa as the ST,
Zativuta a Malawi tivomele