Malawi Parliament approves K1.454 trillion budget after MPs increase their pay, development funding
Malawi parliament approved on Friday the government’s 2018 budget pegged at K1.454 trillion paving the way for government ministries, departments and institutions to begin implementing their activities for this financial year.
Members of Parliament (MPs) approved the 2018/19 fiscal plan after forcing the government to increase their salaries and allowances and increase development funding.
With the usual huge allocations to the key sectors of education, health and agriculture, the 2018/2019 budget also has, among others, allocations for recruitment of more civil servants, increment of civil servants salaries and chiefs honoraria, youth skills and entrepreneurship program and the infamous subsidies of farm input and descent and affordable housing.
Earlier, opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), People’s Party (PP) and many other economic commentators tore apart the budget, describing it as a wishful list aimed at hoodwinking the unsuspecting Malawians ahead of the 2019 tripartite elections.
Tension had built up in the Committee of Supply stage ahead of the eventual passing of the budget as parliamentarians sought Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe’s assurance of inclusion of their improved salaries and other benefits in the current budget.
The Committee of Supply was many times unnecessarily suspended over these matters in the week gone by, making the public fear that the legistrators were abdicating their constitutional duty.
Just before passing the budget on Friday, the Members of Parliament (MPs) unanimously pressured First Deputy Speaker Mcheka Chilenje to suspend the deliberations again, eventually forcing Gondwe and Leader of the House Kondwani Nankhumwa to bow down to their demands.
Nankhumwa told Nyasa Times after the budget had passed that all the issues and grievances the MPs had with government, had been amicably resolved.
“The queries the MPs had tabled were resolved, including the outcry for salary and allowance increases,” said Nankhumwa.
When Mcheka-Chilenje announced the passing of the budget, many MPs erupted into hand-clapping, with others giving a standing ovation.
Leader of Opposition Dr Lazarus Chakwera said he was happy that the budget had finally passed to serve the people of Malawi.
The key Appropriation Bill will be tabled on Monday, according to Nankhumwa several other issues of national interest will be tackled before the House rises.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
They’re greedy people they don’t think about an ordinary people which are in the villages
Kodi reporting ku Malawi kuno imabvuta bwanji chonchi? One of the issues in the article shining brightly like a strobe light is MPs wages? Where are the numbers, Wanangwa Mtawali? They can’t be that hard to dig up! Listing a comparative list could have given a better perspective, no less. I would think most readers would like to know the real figures, especially considering the wide (some would say almost-call-for-revolution) “income” disparities in our country: a few oligarchs making several million K/month, and representatives pocketing more than 1.5 mill/m, without considering unwarranted allowances, when the abale athu or cousins in… Read more »
Iwe chi reporter what is the new salary and allowance for the foolish MPs?
mbuzi zonse, agaru all MPs are a bunch of greedy dogs!!!!!
BY AND BY THIS IS AN APPEASEMENT POLICY FOR THE UPPER CLASS (WELL TO DO)
PEOPLE NOT THE POOR –WHERE BY THE ALREADY RICH PEOPLE BENEFITTING DIRECTLY
WHILE THE POOR MASSES BEING SQUEEZED MORE AND MORE WITHOUT ANY SAY—THE POOR MALAWIANS ONLY SAY
IS= GOD HAVE MERCIES ON US !!
Given the size of the budget ($2billion/R26 billion), it would be prudent for the govt to spend a big part of the budget on developmental projects that would result in immediate upward impact on the economic base. Otherwise the economy will continue to be stressed in light of the projected economic growth of 5% with associated inflation of 7%. (Technically the economy will be shrinking at 2%). Spending any of the budget on increasing the number of civil servants (already bloated and unproductive) and inceasing public sector wage bill is not the way to go. I would have expected Gondwe… Read more »
The only mp you can trust is possibly a dead one. Kudziwonjedzera salary ndikuchita pass budget popanda mtsutso….mapazi anu ndithu ma mp
I am impressed that the leader of opposition is happy that the budget has passed. I hope Trapence, the promoter of same sex marriage, will not mislead Chakwera again to demonstrate against his own decisions in parliament.
the happiness,rapture,ululation and handshakes comes after govt bows to increase legislators salaries,the belief that we will be a developed country one day definitely its a nightmare,the mentality we all have is disastrous to national developmental.it takes a sacrifice to realise real change in life n am sorry it appears we are far from acknowledging it or we are simply selfserving champion medalists deserving a lavish lifestyle after intelligently defeating competitors for the hot parliamentary seat
Kkkkk ma MP a certain committee should be overseeing your benefits. My fear with the current system where you raise your own salaries and benefits is that you will end up abusing those powers
Dziko lathu tonse! Budget being successfully inflated with salary hike of MPs koma ordinary civil servant mukumupatsa yochepa koma market amene cost ya merchandise ndi yokwera ndi amodzi … zosayenda … kumufinya civil servant! Mayendetsedwe a dziko lathuli afika pa mwana wakana phalarope.
Reader of Opposition,Lazarus Chakwerandi anzanuwo bwanji osakana salary ndi allowance popanga demo?Mumakana ndalama zaku Constituency pano kuwomba mmanja kumwetulira pafupi kungamba kukamwa chifukwa akupatsani ndalama. Anthu otembeleredwa inu atidye nawo koma dziwani kuti ndalama ndi satana tsiku lina muzayankha mulanduumenewu kwa Namalenga. Kodi kubvomereza budget pokha-pokha malawansi akwezedwe siziphuphu? Uyankhe Lazarus Chakwera monga Mtsogoleri otsutsa.