Cashgate has shocked Malawians
Government has admitted that Malawians are shocked by the massive looting of public funds at Capital Hill.
Speaking in Lilongwe recently during the 80th celebration of the birth of His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ephraim Chiume said the massive discovery of corruption, fraud and theft of billions of public funds worried Malawians.
“The looting of public resources is a sad and deplorable development because it has adversely affected the delivery of services to the already underprivileged communities. “The plunder of public resources has caused and will continue to cause serious hardships on our innocent people, especially in rural areas,” said Chiume.
He said the looting, which has caused Malawi’s development partners, especially the Common Approach to Budgetary Support (Cabs) group to delay disbursement of aid will hit hard innocent villagers.
On the efforts government is undertaking to correct the anomaly, Chiume said government will proceed to conduct a forensic audit from 2005 when the Intergrated Financial Management Information System (Ifmis) was installed to date to get to the bottom of the matter.
Commenting on relations between Malawi and Japan, Chiume said Japan has helped Malawi in many areas, including health, education, infrastructure development, trade and agriculture.
Said Chiume: “In the health sector, your government, through Toshukai Company, donated 10 dialysis machines to Kamuzu Central Hospital while in the energy sector, you donated 80 kw solar power plant which was installed at Kamuzu International Airport.
“In the education sector, you have built school blocks at Mpondasi and you continue to send volunteers here, making Malawi the largest recipient of Japanese volunteers.”
Japanese Ambassador Shuichiro Nishioka said Japan is looking forward to bolstering trade and investment between the two countries because trade is indispensable to Malawi’s economic growth.
“With regard to the future cooperation, we wish to prioritise support to Malawi’s development in a bid to assist Malawi attract more investors,” said Nishioka.
He commended government for taking bold steps dealing with the stealing of public funds at Capital Hill.
“We are optimistic that Malawi’s future will be bright despite challenges faced in 2013 and, as the country prepares for two very significant events next year, the tripartite elections and the 50thannivessary, we hope that both events will spur Malawins to redouble their efforts in attaining development,” said Nishioka.
