MCP fault Malawi budget as ‘unrealistic and burdensome’:  Goodall’s K1.13 trillion benefits the rich, hurt the poor

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson on finance , Alexander Kusamba-Dzonzi, has faulted  the K1.13 trillion 2016/17 National Budget which Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe tabled in Parliament,  saying it was unrealistic and unpromising, and would do nothing to overcome inefficiency and corruption rife in governance of the Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Dzonzi said the budget was unacceptable as it would promise nothing concrete to the people of Malawi regarding prosperity and development in their areas.

“This budget is not realistic and not possible because in the budget framework there is no evidence that the K1.13 trillion budget will be implemented,” said Kusamba-Dzonzi.

He insinuated that new tax regimes have been imposed to extort money from the hard-up citizens for the well-being of a few elite persons.

He said it was wrong for the Minister of Finance to come up with unrealistic targets for public tax collector Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) when he knew “pretty well that the economy is struggling”.

Said Kusamba-Dzonzi: “The budget is unrealistic script full of promises that never see light of the day and only promise hope to a poor and hunger stricken Malawian but never materialise into work,”

Kusamba-Dzonzi, who is also Dowa West legislator, said the 2016/17 National Budget was less by 21 percent of the 2015/16 budget despite the current figures showing an increase.

But Finance Minister Gondwe claimed there will be growth of GDP projected at 5.1 percent in 2016 from 3.1 percent in 2015.

Gondwe’s financial plan is centred on the four priorities of increasing domestic resource mobilisation, food purchasing and irrigation farming, maintaining the wage bill to below seven percent and commitment to predictably finance key social sectors such as health and education.