Chiefs add voices to donor aid debate

Some chiefs in the country have backed calls by some presidential hopefuls for the country to reduce its over-dependence on donors for its development.

Speaking in random interviews with Weekend Nation, the chiefs described as shameful the perpetual begging the country subjects itself to, 50 years after attaining independence.

The chiefs’ comments come at a time most presidential candidates in the May 20 Tripartite Elections are saying the country should wean itself from donor dependency.

Among the presidential candidates who say will make Malawi economically independent are Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and George Nnesa who is leading Tisintha Alliance.

Senior Chief Kaomba of Kasungu said Malawi should now stand on its own to prove that it is really independent.

Said Kaomba: “It is very embarrassing that at 50 years of independence, our country still looks up to donors to top up its annual budget. I go along with those people who say Malawi should start using local resources for its budget.”

Senior Chief Kwataine of Ntcheu agreed with Kaomba that Malawi should depend on local revenue for its budget. But Kwataine was quick to say that the country should first come up with an exit strategy.

“As a country, the first thing we should do is to strategise on how we can exit from the donor aid. At 50 years of independence, it is time to stand on our own economically.

“But at the moment, we can’t just say we should stop depending on donors. For example, I am involved in the Safe Motherhood Initiative which hugely depends on donor money. Therefore, we can’t shun donor aid because it is difficult at the moment for Malawi to locally finance such initiatives and projects,” said Kwataine.

Traditional Authority (T/A) Chilooko from Ntchisi said depending on donor aid is the same us begging.

“This is the same as begging and a beggar has no choice. The donor can manipulate the receiver in any way. This donor dependency puts us in an awkward situation, especially when the donors freeze their aid. We end up abandoning our projects and failing to procure some basic necessities,” said Chilooko.

T/A Likoswe of Chiradzulu, however, doubted whether such presidential candidates would really wean the country from donor dependency, saying many things are said during political campaign.

“The problem is that the presidential candidate can talk one thing today and change tomorrow. Let’s us wait whether they will lead us out of donor dependence,” said Likoswe.