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The United Democratic Front (UDF) and Malawi Congress party (MCP) on Wednesday used their numbers again to reject the supplementary budget, a development government has described as unfortunate and showing lack of having the people’s welfare at heart.
The rejection of the budget came barely a day after the opposition rejected the appointment of Steve Mchenga as Auditor general (AG).
Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe, looking visibly disappointed, said the law allows government to spend until the next budget and ask Parliament to validate the expenditure.
“Well, I believe we have to think again about how to do with resources we have from HIPC. The law says that we can spend until the next budget and then come back to Parliament to validate the expenditure, but that’s decision the whole government will have to make,” said Gondwe.
Leader of the House Henry Chimunthu Banda too could not hide his disappointment, saying it was unfortunate for the opposition to politicise the budget putting lives of Malawians, especially the poor, at stake.
According to Chimunthu Banda, legislators as representatives of the people, are expected to rise above partisan politics and advance issues of national interest such as the budget.
“One would only see political under currents in all this, it’s unfortunate because if we proceed like we have done, I don’t think we are serving the interests of the Malawi nation,” said Chimunthu Banda.
Gondwe was asking the House to approve a revised budget of K148, 256 billion using the HIPC initiative resources but the opposition resisted, arguing, among others, that government needs to account in detail the expenditure of the previous allocations.
But Gondwe said while saying government was in a position to provide details of expenditure of each allocation, parliamentary standing orders do not allow breakdowns
MCP finance spokesperson Respicious Dzanjalimodzi said government must justify the need for additional funds by pointing out what has been done, saying in his constituency roads have not been maintained and boreholes not sunk.
“If additional resources have to be approved, we need to know what happened on the ground,” said Dzanjalimodzi attracting applause from opposition.
But Gondwe pleaded with the House to approve the supplementary budget, adding the ball was in the legislators’ court to give a nod since money from debt relief is available, reminding the MPs that the resources will be used to improve lives, especially the poor.
But as Gondwe was explaining, some members kept on jeering, prompting the usually calm minister to lose his temper to say it is up to the MPs to approve the budget or else put lives at stake.
When First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje put a question as to whether or not the motion to authorise use of additional funds should be endorsed, those against carried the day
But several government MPs stood in protest, asking for a roll call to decide the matter.
Some government MPs, particularly ministers, were annoyed and kept on shouting insults at the opposition. But the opposition also shouted back saying without accountability, they cannot approve the budget.
Former Agriculture Minister Uladi Mussa, former Vice President Justin Malewezi, MP for Zomba Central Yunus Mussa and UDF MP for Phalombe Central Felton Mulli are some of the few opposition MPs that voted for the budget.
Those who were against were 86, for the approval 74, those who abstained were 4 while 23 were absent.
After the announcement of the results, government side told the opposition to jubilate since their mission was accomplished.
Government MPs wore sad faces as Chilenje adjourned the House to this morning.
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