Now Tonse govt can deliver services, Leader of the House Chimwendo says budget test lies in implementation
There was visible relief and jubilation from government benches whose members stood up in celebration after Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara declared that the Tonse Alliance’s first national budget presented by Minister of Finance Felix Mlusu on September 4, 2020 had passed after members approved it.
Leader of the House, Richard Chimwendo-Banda said following the passing of the Appropriation Act, Treasury can now raise and spend money and the Tonse Alliance led government can deliver its services to the people for transformational development agenda.
Chimwendo Banda, who is also Minister of Homeland Security, said the government will now use the fiscal plane to achieve the desired goals and objective.
“For now, we are happy that we now have a budget, Malawians can smile; services have to be provided. At least we’ll have fertilizer that has to be sold to farmers at a cheaper price, medicine that has to be available, our teachers get paid.
“It’s just an exciting time for us; we are happy members did give in all what they could. It has been a wonderful day,” Chimwendo-Banda said squealing with excitement.
Chimwendo Banda said the outlined programmes in the budget will ensure that one of the key components of the Tonse manifesto—the creation of one million jobs—materialises.
But having Parliament pass the Appropriation Act to authorise spending is one thing and indeed implementing the same to the letter is a different ball game altogether.
Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson of Finance in Parliament Joseph Mwanamvekha said he was pleased with the vigour the opposition had shown in debating the budget and they would continue their oversight role during its implementation.
The former government purse keeper said that implementation is critical because that is what will ensure the trickle-down effect of the allocated resources.
Development expenditure is projected at K511.2 billion, consisting of K100.9 billion for domestically financed projects and K410.3 billion for foreign financed projects.
The budget has a fiscal deficit of K754.8 billion, which is expected to be financed by foreign borrowing amounting to K224.8 billion and K530.1 billion from domestic borrowing.
The fiscal plan is banking on domestic tax collections from Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and non-tax revenue.
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Rwanda has just legalized Chamba Salvia Cannabis to develop an export market to supply the estimated $352 Billion US Dollars World Market for medical use. Malawi passed this Law one year ago but NOTHING to Date has been done to develop the growing of this crop. What’s happening Ministry of Agriculture?
Paying k357 Billion in Interest NOW on past years borrowing and this year having k754.8 Billion fiscal deficit a majority being domestic debt borrowing when the bank rate is 13.5%. Next year Government will be paying over k400 Billion in just interest. More than the Education and Health Budgets. You could Not find something to cut?
No wonder Chakwera went to the UN bowl in hand asking World Leaders for Debt forgiveness. 30℅ Deficits are Not Sustainable and will only lead to excessive inflation and devaluation of the Kwacha
Where is the K15,000 per month money for grannies in the budget? Where is the free water and electricity connections? Where is the K14000 passport? Where is the money for the three meals per day? Why did you cheat us on K100,000.00 tax free bracket? Where are soft loans and medical schemes for civil servants? Where are the non-renewable driving licenses? Where are the bullet trains in the budget? Where are the promotions and salary increase for civil servants? Eiish but Nonse alliance is indeed a bunch of pathological liars.
Smiling for a budget with a deficit of K755billion to be met by borrowing and mainly for consumption?
Well done all our MPs for showing your maturity that politics aside but let us pass the budget for the betterment of mother Malawi. This is only our country we can call home so let’s be together and unite as one to build our beautiful country . We are indeed one people and it’s only politics whigh intend to divide us among regional lines but from our forefather to this generation we are in today, we have intermarriage so no one can claim to be pure of a particular tribe without the mix of another tribe. Let’s unite and love… Read more »
We want everything that went down from 1994 up again. Education standards must improve. Public schools are deemed to be for the poor and because of poor standards they remain poor. Public hospitals are in pathetic state and for the poor. The rich go there when dead and that’s the mortuary. The roads are bad. Chilima talked about the Lilongwe to Chiweta road as a death trap. It’s true. Waste Management is another area to be considered. The issue of deforestation is a serious one. A huge charcoal market is developing at Lumbadzi. The charcoal dealers are invading the north… Read more »