CSOs speak against Mudzi Trust, others
Civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday described President Joyce Banda’s Mudzi Transformation Trust initiative as a duplication of existing government projects, arguing implementation will drain public resources and overburden taxpayers.
The CSOs, who included the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), the Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn), the Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec), the Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) and the Centre for Social Concern (CfSC), said this at a news conference in Lilongwe.
They also cautioned government against over-reliance on donors’ funding pledges and demanded accountability on proceeds from mining deals, including the Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga.
Said Csec executive director Benedicto Kondowe: “We are worried with incorporation of some initiatives in the budget that are a duplication of existing government efforts and remain a drain of taxpayers through either direct financing or payment of loans.
“One such effort is the new Mudzi Transformation Trust which in essence is a duplication of the Local Development Fund [LDF] and Comsip projects.
“As a platform, we believe that any serious government needs to be sensitive in avoiding efforts that are rather a burden to taxpayers.”
The CSOs also attacked government for lack of transparency on the performance of the mining sector despite being earmarked as key for economic growth.
The President launched the Mudzi Transformation Trust on May 24 this year as a vehicle which will bring development to rural masses by creating ideal villages which will have potable water, good houses, good food, access to roads and growing social economic status.
