Off the wall of Dickson Kashoti: Of K300m cars for Speaker and Opposition chief

I have listened, heard and read arguments and counterarguments on parliament’s decision to buy vehicles for the Speaker Richard Msowoya, leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera and the two deputy speakers.

Below is my personal opinion.

Everyone must know that parliament is a government within government, an equally important and influential arm of government at par with the executive on one hand and judiciary on the other. Therefore its leadership, which includes Msowoya and Chakwera, must be given necessary tools to run that important institution. One of the tools is the reliable mode of transport.

K300m for four vehicles is peanuts compared to the blowing of the same amount for the chartered presidential jets for just one trip. These vehicles will serve the servants of our democracy for over 10 years.

No one expects our parliamentary leaders to be using run down corollas as they move up and down bringing democracy to the people in Khuluvi, Nsanje or Bolero, Rumphi.

Just check what vehicles, their colleague, leader of the House Francis Katsaira and his deputy, who all belong to the executive government arm, are using.

Parliament is the centre of our democracy and our democracy leaders must be motivated. Compare to the vehicles used by the cabinet and other executive branch officials and the vehicles used by our esteemed judges to those that are at parliament.

Our staff at parliament is humble. It does not take an economist to know that K300m is too little to make an impact on our economy which is in ICU.

The purchase was done after all approvals from Goodall Gondwe, the public purse keeper were done. Am sure he critically evaluated the need for the vehicles, the merits and demerits on our economy before approving.

The process was also cleared at the Office of director of public procurement, am sure. After all, who said democracy is cheap. We should not think of buying them new vehicles when they are stuck in Chikangawa due to a break down.

That’s the cost of democracy, after all!

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