Spokesman for finance in the opposition People’s Party (PP), Ralph Jooma has said they will demand explanation on the K737 billion (US$1.6 billion) budget expenditure which they will critique before allowing a debate on additional allocations. Parliament in the capital Lilongwe resumes sitting Monday to review the first six months of implementing the 2014/15 National […]
The Malawian government has restricted domestic travel by cabinet ministers to eight trips per month as a cost-cutting measure to support the zero-aid budget, Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe said Wednesday. According to Gondwe, the restrictions have been done in the austerity measures with no budgetary support from donors including Britain, who suspended aid following massive […]
Like many aid-dependent countries in the developing world, Malawi cannot balance its books without donor support, which makes up as much as 40% of the national budget. Yet because of the ongoing nightmare of an unprecedented corruption scandal, known as “Cashgate”, it faces a massive suspension of aid directly to its government. In the face […]
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” ~ Thomas Paine It looks like the reality of the so-called Zero-Aid Budget is slowly sinking in; it is now at the intersection where wishes and reality collide. For the first time President Peter Mutharika has publicly appealed to […]
Britain continued to support Malawi with aid though not routing that support through the Government but continues with a large programme of support to reduce poverty and assist poor people across the country through other channels with MK47 billon injected. The British High Commissioner to Malawi, Michael Nevin said London did not want the poorest […]
Members of Parliament passed the 2014-2015 budget which carries a 24 percent average wage increment for civil servants but the public service trade unions have rejected that increase demanding more than that, paving the way for possible industrial action. Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Nations Msowoya said what the government offered is what […]
The new government of Malawi that was ushered into power following the 20 May 2014 elections started its tenure facing an ultimatum from donors: restore fiscal integrity or forget about the resumption of budgetary support that makes up as much as 40% of the total budget. Donors suspended budgetary support to the tune of US$ 150 million following the revelation […]
Vice President Saulosi Chilima has applauded Members of Parliament in the country for passing the 2014/15 National Budget saying it will enable the Government to start fulfilling the pledges it made during the campaign period. The Vice President made the remarks on Saturday in Thyolo where he conducted a whistle stop campaign tour wooing people […]
Malawi Parliament on Friday passed K742 billion zero-aid budget to enable government execute developmental projects and other statutory obligation expenditures for the the 2014/15. Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe moved a motion for Parliamentarians to support the approval of the financial plan where a total of K7.4 billion has been added […]
Malawi’s Finance, Economic Planning and Development Minister Goodall Gondwe has allocated K150 million to the Office of the Director of Declaration of Assets which has been dormant since its head was appointed about a month ago. Initially, Gondwe had not made any provision for Assets Director’s office because a separate vote for the directorate is […]
Malawi public workers battling with 24.50 percent inflation have maintained their demand for “at least 50 percent” pay hike to cover the rising cost of living in the cash-strapped southern African country. Civil Servants’ Trade Union (CSTU) said General Secretary, Madalitso Njolomole the latest demand was justified. The union leaders rejected the proposed 24 percent […]
The DPP Government is dead broke, yet President Peter Mutharika has endorsed a 68-man (and women) delegation to accompany him to New York where he will be attending the 69th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, blowing more than MK400 million in the process. According to highly placed government sources at Capital Hill, […]
“It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.” ~ Henry Ford Malawi’s leader of opposition, Lazarus Chakwera recently ruffled a few feathers when in his response to 2014/15 proposed national budget he […]
One percent 2014-2015 budget allocation to child and youth development is a betrayal to young people in the country, Center for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (YECE) Executive Director Lucky Mbewe has said. The current national fiscal budget is pegged at K742.8 billion representing a 16 percent increase from last year. “What it means is […]
The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Rev Dr Lazarous Chakwera, who is also leader of opposition, on Wednesday gave a critique to the zero-aid budget, questioning government for proposing tax breaks for commercial banks. Chakwera in his take to examine the K742.6 billion 2014/15 national budget said zero-aid budget promotes consumption and offers the working class […]
Minister of Health Dr Jean Kalirani has disclosed that a 8.8 percent of the K742 billion of 2014/15 National Budget allocated to the health sector in the zero-aid budget is a result of cashgate which forced international donors to withhold aid. Civil society organisations (CSOs) working in the public health, HIV and Aids management sector […]
“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” ~ Bob Marley It is no longer news that the 2014/15 national budget will not be subsidised by donors who contributes up to 40 per cent of the total budget. The donor pullout meant that Malawi government needed alternative ways of […]
When Peter Mutharika was declared President of the Republic of Malawi, his newly appointed Finance Minister, Goodall Gondwe, perhaps due to the excitement of a new job after staying too long in the wilderness, hinted at abandoning the economic policies that were pursued by the previous government of Joyce Banda, including abandoning the automatic fuel […]