2015/2016 Budget Sidelines People of North- Says MPs

2015/2016 budget sideline Northern Region people says Legislatures, appeals for the increased allocation for the Development Budget.

The 2015/2016 Budget has K224 billion but the northern region MPs says out of this allocation the northern region will get almost nothing.

During the press briefing held at the Parliament Building in the capital city Lilongwe, 9 parliamentarians representing all northern region constituencies said it is worrisome that this year' budget like other previous years the northern part of Malawi will again not benefit from the budget.

The Parliamentarians bemoaned that number of promised projects like roads, Mzuzu Airport, education and health including water projects have received nothing yet government continues to boast doing a lot to the Northern region.

Nine legislatures, representatives of Northern region including hon Mzomera Ngwira, Enoch Chihana, Agnes Nyalonje, Werani Chilenga and Kamlepo Kalua said there is nothing in this budget that can benefit people of north.

Hon Mzomera Ngwira who led the meeting said Northern region MPs have seen that each year budget is not benefiting people of north citing that even last year budget had completely nothing to support northern region projects.

He mentioned of number of unfulfilled promises including Mzuzu airport since 2010 yet government has allocated more resources for Chileka and Kamuzu airport which are from Southern Region and Central Region respectively.

Amlosnt every parliamentarian in the meeting observed that more budget support is skewed to Southern region and Central region areas and said this may lead to future conflicts.

Rumphi West parliamentarian Jacqueline Kouwenhoven proved the point that northern region is being sidelined saying, though her constituency has two national parks of Nyika and Vwaza marsh but roads and other infrastructure are in pathetic state.

Kamlepo Kalua member for Rumphi East emphasized that time has come that governments should unite people in all regions by formulating budget that reflects nationalism.

He therefore proposed that out K224 billion for Development budget, northern region has to be allocated at least K60 billion.

Other MPs complained that even CDF money, northern districts have less disbursement yet Southern region and central region have received 90% of their K9 million.

The Northern region MPs says remains adamant to pressure government through parliament chambers, consult people in their constituents and continue to engage relevant people to ensure that government is implementing fairness in the budget.

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