By Martha Kachingwe Phiri—LILONGWE
As Malawi moves around with a begging bowl to mobilize K700 billion for the Tropical Cyclone Freddy recovery process, government has raised Independence Day Commemorations budget from less than K30 million in 2022 to a whopping K320 million this year.
Local Government Minister, Richard Chimwendo Banda, who chairs the organizing committee, has told journalists in Lilongwe that events marking the country’s 59 years of self-rule include national prayers at BICC and a football match between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Yanga FC of Tanzania.
Centre for Transparency and Social Accountability-CSAT Executive Director, Willy Kambwandira thinks the announcement confirms we have leaders who are living in their own world.
“Honestly, this is not the prudent way of using the limited resources and also considering the economic challenges the country is facing. Again, this is also against the tenets of austerity measures. It’s high time we changed the traditional way of running things,” argues Kambwandira.
But social and political commentator, Wonderful Mkhutche says the budget is justifiable as long as government adequately uses the moment to remind citizens on where the country is coming from and its destination.
“People lament spending since what they see are same old ceremonies and speeches that leave no inspiration and hope in our lives. But independence celebrations are a good moment of reflection for us.
“Unfortunately, we have misused this moment for years hence the day has lost value in most people’s minds,” says Mkhutche.
Last year, Agriculture Minister, Sam Kawale, who chaired a similar event, said government had reduced the budget to less than K30 million “to save resources because the country is in a healing and recovery process hence the need to reflect. Time to celebrate will come.”
In 2021, authorities were forced to cut down the Independence Day expenditure from the initial K244 million to K50 million following a public backlash.
Ironically, the current huge expenditure comes as public service delivery remains constrained due to limited resources.
For instance, in 2021, Karonga District director of health and social services David Sibale told Nation Online that the 235-bed capacity district hospital could only manage two meals per day costing them about K1.5 million per month.
He described three meals cost at least K3 million as not sustainable.
For argument’s sake, the K320 million is the Constituency Development Fund yearly allocation for three constituencies that receive K100 million each. The remaining K20 million could be enough to save some needy students in the country’s public universities from withdrawing from academic studies due to lack of funds.
Recently, President Lazarus Chakwera made a donation of K20 million each to six public universities to cater for needy students. This was money realized from his presidential golf charity initiative.
Chakwera and Chilima arriving at BICC for last year’s Independence Day commemorations
