BJ changes tune on aid freeze tantrums against donors

Malawi Government spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira says he did not blame donors for suspending budgetary support to Malawi over the cash-gate scandal, saying nobody would want to put their money “in a pocket that has holes.”

Speaking in an interview with Nation on Sunday in Lilongwe on Friday, Mpinganjira said he was only reminding everybody that President Joyce Banda is the one who began the battle against abuse of public funds and that donors are welcome to be part of the solutions to the problem.

But on Friday, the minister appeared to walk back his statements.

“Nobody is happy with the cashgate issue and as government we are pleased that donor countries such as Britain are part of the team that wants to root out the loopholes that led to the looting of public funds.

“In my speech in Blantyre, I was pleading with the clergy that this country needs prayers because the cashgate scam has affected everybody,” he said.

During the dedication of the Blantyre CCAP Synod Radio on Thursday, Mpinganjira said instead of withholding aid, donors should appreciate the efforts government has taken to deal with the plunder of public resources.

But in Friday’s interview, Mpinganjira said what he meant was that President Banda is committed to dealing with the problem decisively as demonstrated by the arrests and prosecution of suspects.

“The donors have asked us to put our house in order and we are doing just that. President Joyce Banda has held the bull by its horns by vowing to deal with anybody in the cashgate scam and we are sure that once this problem is fixed no one will have courage to tamper with public funds,” he said.

Donors under the Common Approach to Budgetary Support (Cabs) said they decided to delay direct support to Malawi until they receive assurances that their money will be used prudently.