Clarity missing in Sona—experts
Some experts have faulted President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of The Nation Address (Sona) delivered on Friday, saying it lacks clarity on how his administration plans to improve some infrastructure development in the health and education sectors.
Education experts Limbani Nsapato and Benedicto Kondowe yesterday observed in separate interviews that the Sona did not spell out where some of the resources will come from.
Nsapato, who is also Edukans Malawi country director, indicated that the ambitious plan by government to construct Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa University is welcome but lacks clarity on source of funds.
In his address, Chakwera did not give much details, but said in the coming fiscal year of 2023/2024, government will commence construction of the facility.
Said Nsapato: “Have resources been secured and from where, and what are the clear plans on the project. It was a missed opportunity.”
On his part, Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) executive director Kondowe echoed Nsapato’s sentiments and wondered whether the financing a loan or a donation.
He added that the recruitment of teachers is a step in the right direction, but that it was not specific is some respect.
The education rights activist said the recruitment of auxiliary teachers also needs to be permanent and not based on salaries, arguing that such teachers are less motivated even though they have same grades as those in mainstream.
Said Kondowe: “The pace at which the 200 secondary schools are being constructed is decimal and as a country we need to move with speed in this area.”
Commenting on the health sector as outlined in the Sona, health activist Maziko Matemba contended that the infrastructure development in the sector can only be transformed if government increases allocation of health budget from the current nine percent to 15 percent.
He stressed that the President ought to have said more on service delivery in the health sector especially now that government is grappling with emergencies and pandemics like cholera.
Malawi Equity Health Network executive director George Jobe said he expected Chakwera to touch on inadequate and dilapidated medical equipment in the country’s hospitals and the urgent need of equipment’s such as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.
He said: “We also look forward to a translation of the Sona by the Minister of Finance to increase the drug budget and recruitments of additional health care workers for the current health facilities and the new ones to be constructed.
