The K7 trillion suspicion

Mhat happens alawi Government and Bridgin Foundation—an organisation based in Brussels, Switzerland, have signed a $6.8 billion (about K7 trillion) grant that according to both the government and the foundation, will be invested in various infrastructural projects for the next three to four years.

This was probably one of the biggest news that happened last week and one would expect that this K7 trillion windfall would send the whole country into jubilation. Not only jubilation, but this huge amount of money should also, at least, have eased Malawians’ concern over the country’s economic malaise that seems to have no end in sight.

However, as big as this news is, it has not aroused Malawians’ sense of jubilation rather it has sent tongues wagging over the possibility that this might just be a scam.

Those who are saying this deal sounds too good to be true could be right. It is not that Malawians are ungrateful people hell-bent on only fault finding, no. Malawians have in the past years learnt bitter lessons on how this Tonse government’s failure to do due diligence has led to the loss of public money.

Our memories are still fresh of the fertiliser deal gone with a UK-based company that turned out to a meat-selling company. As it is, the country is yet to recover the K750 million paid to the fertiliser company. Those who authorised the payment, have to this day not clearly said what that money was for as they keep on contradicting each other.

There is a saying that once bitten, twice shy. The suspicion and disbelief over the K7 trillion grant is not because Malawians do not want the money or see the country developed, it is because our leaders have proved to be people who lack integrity and have a penchant for quick fixes that often land the country in trouble.

One can only hope and pray that this time, the government did due diligence on the organisation and Malawians will not be duped.

As Malawians raise their concerns, this is not the time for government officials to be patronising and condescending in their responses to people’s questions. Malawians’ fears are valid. They have seen a government that embodies the spirit of a street vendor who often throws caution to the window. The least government can do now is convince Malawians about the legitimacy of the K7 trillion deal as well as the people behind the deal.

It is the duty of government to civic educate its people on such matters, especially where such huge amounts of money are involved. It is a way of being transparent too which is what Malawians are asking for from their government. This is not too much to ask.