Budget is raw deal—MCP, CSOs
The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has described the 2013/14 budget as a raw deal, counterfeit and a dangerous fiscal plan only crafted as an election and political tool.
MCP spokesperson Joseph Njobvuyalema said this in response to the budget statement presented last Friday by Malawi’s Minister of Finance Ken Lipenga.
He further called on government to “immediately” abandon what he also called a counterfeit process and stop falsifying the economy.
“It is a dangerous fiscal plan and simply electioneering and politicking budget, which will end into a budget deficit,” he said.
Added Njobvuyalema: “The Minister of Finance should give us a true budget, not this counterfeit budget… or urgently make corrections to the budget before you drag all Malawians into a fiscal abyss.”
“Listen twice as much as you speak and plan tomorrow’s work (today)! Nothing sinks people faster in their careers than arrogance, but humility is the mother of all virtues; and indeed you cannot get lost if you don’t know where you are going!”
“Pamsasa saipitsapo... I propose that Government should form a National Planning Commission for making crucial decisions and ensure autonomy of State institutions,” said Njobvuyalema.
The DPP and the UDF are yet to comment on the budget.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) and Malawi Watch have accused government of wasting time and resources on pre-budget consultative meetings because most of the proposals are ignored in budget statements.
The two organisations have since called on Capital Hill to pay attention to the proposals if the welfare of people is to improve.
Mejn executive director Dalitso Kubalasa said Mejn was still assessing the budget to check key issues that government has not considered.
“Take consultations seriously, if people are to trust government,” he said.
On the same, Malawi Watch executive director Billy Banda said the consultations are a smoke-screen as the budget does not reflect what people raise during the meetings.
“If you look at the current budget, it is only there to fulfil political ambitions and the elections next year,” said Banda.
