By Our Reporter

A heated exchange erupted in Parliament on Tuesday after the Malawi Government strongly rejected allegations that it had spent K24 billion on repatriating Malawians from South Africa, insisting the actual expenditure stands at K9 billion.

The dispute unfolded when Minister of Information and Digitalisation Shadric Namalomba, who also serves as Deputy Leader of the House, responded to claims made by Lilongwe Nyanja Member of Parliament Steven Baba Malondera, who alleged over the weekend that the Government had used K24 billion for the repatriation exercise.Shepherd Bushiri Mobilises Buses to Help Malawians Return Home from South Africa

Addressing the National Assembly, Namalomba dismissed the allegation as inaccurate and said Government records show that only K9 billion has so far been spent to bring Malawians back home from South Africa.

The minister further challenged the evidence presented by Malondera, arguing that the documents laid before Parliament did not support the K24 billion figure the legislator had repeatedly cited.

“The evidence brought before this House does not correspond with the allegations that K24 billion has been spent,” Namalomba told Parliament as he defended the Government’s management of the repatriation programme.Malawi Needs K24 Billion to Repatriate 15,000 Citizens Stranded in South Africa

Despite the Government’s explanation, Malondera refused to back down. He maintained that the Executive owes Parliament and the public a full account of the money spent on the operation, arguing that transparency is essential whenever billions of kwacha in public funds are involved.

The sharp disagreement has raised fresh questions over the cost of one of the Government’s largest recent humanitarian operations and is likely to intensify demands for detailed financial disclosures.South Africa Deports 490 Malawians for Immigration Violations

The repatriation programme has seen thousands of Malawians assisted to return home from South Africa, but the latest clash has shifted attention from the humanitarian effort to growing scrutiny over how public resources have been utilised.

With both sides standing firmly by their figures, Parliament is expected to demand further clarification in the coming days as lawmakers seek to establish the exact cost of the repatriation exercise and determine whether all public funds have been properly accounted for.Hundreds of Undocumented Malawians Face Deportation as Buses Arrive at Beitbridge Border Post