Forget industrialisation,let kaunjika flourish
A couple of days ago, vendors, especially those trading in second-hand clothes, kaunjika, marched to the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) offices, demanding that the government rescinds its decision on new tax measures on.
A few hours after the protests started, gvernment and MRA decided to put on hold the new tax regime on Kaunjika. This didn’t come with an explanation that makes sense, but all the same, the protests were called off. Happy vendors returned to their trade, probably satisfied they have a listening government.
Last month, the Lilongwe City Council embarked on campaign slashing maize grown in undeveloped places. It was stopped in its tracks, thanks to the quick response from government after public outcry on social media.
I have lost count of a number of times this government has had to change decisions because some vocal social media champions said it is a bad decision. This is often done without thorough analysis of the issue at hand, but on impulse to please protestors.
These decisions set a bad precedence, one which will one day backfire on all of us. Take the kaunjika issue for instance, while the government says it wants to promote industrialisation as a means of growing our economy and boosting employment, the very same government is shooting itself in the foot with decisions by allowing the business to freely flourish.
How then, does government intend to grow the textile industry? Don’t get me wrong, kaunjika has been a life saver, at an individual level, but not at a national level in terms of helping grow the economy.
It is this kaunjika business that is suffocating the textile industry and consequently contributing to stunted economic growth.
Government should not just bow down to such pressures, but be firm, especially with decisions meant to benefit the country more than just individuals.
