As the Ministry of Finance continues to make consultation on the forthcoming budget, the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) has questioned the budget tradition, which merely accommodates money for consumption and not for long-term investment projects.
Reverend Major Gondwe presented the budget suggestion on Wednesday in Mzuzu.
He said the budget should encourage more investments than consumption.
He tore apart the tax system, describing it as unfair in other areas.
“For example, tax on second-hand cars is unreasonable. We are not saying that you should scrap it off, but that you should reduce it. This will even help to reduce corruption,” he said.
The style government uses to collect revenue was not spared either. Gondwe suggested that ticketing system should be used just like the way it is done in other countries.
“Use ticketing system whereby money would be going direct to government. The current system where an official collects money is tempting and could easily result in corruption,” he said.
He also suggested that fees should be brought back to primary schools in order to improve the quality of education.
Deputy Minister of Finance Dr Cornelius Mwalwanda acknowledged the suggestion and assured EAM that government would look into the matter.
He said government would look into the reintroduction of fees in primary schools and also introduce debate on Facebook.
Government is expected to present the 2013/14 budget during the next sitting of Parliament in May.
