Updated: 2015/2016 Budget lopsided; People Of North Benefit Nothing- MPs

Hon Chihana: There is nothing for people of north

Members of Parliament (MPs) from Northern region of Malawi on Thursday criticized the proposed 2015/2016 budget as too "regionalistic", with a lot of development resources allocation skewed towards Southern and Central regions of the country.

At a meeting with members of press held at Parliament building, 9 legislatures who asserted to have represented all MPs from Northern region said are not happy with the budget being deliberated upon at National Assembly and link it to previous budgets where the trend has been the same.

Hon Mzomera Ngwira: We are concerned over the
Continued trend 

Mzimba Hora legislature, Honorable Mzomera Mgwira, said "We have seen that each budget is not benefiting people that we represent especially those in the northern region" and added "Even last year budget (2014/2015 budget) had completely nothing for projects in the northern region"

Hon Ngwira seating with Hon Nyalonje 

Hon Ngwira further said all developments projects taking place in the northern region are project grants and nothing from Malawi government budget.

Nine legislatures including; hons. Enoch Chihana, Agnes Nyalonje, Werani Chilenga, Kamlepo Kalua and Jacqueline Kouwenhoven concurred with hon. Ngwira that all national budgets have failed to include expectations of people from north but rather what administration expect which in most cases gives too much money to projects benefiting people of Southern and Central regions of Malawi.

2015/2016 budget, has projected expenditure and net lending of K901.6 billion where the recurrent budget will be at K674.6 billion while the development budget will amount to K224.0 billion. However, the Parliamentarians noted with concern that from the development budget people of North will get nothing or miniscule amount compared to other regions. 

There is no budget for people of northern region 

They bemoaned that unlike Central and Sothern regions allocated with more resources for several development projects including on rehabilitation of Chileka and Kamuzu international airports (South and Central regions respectively), number of projects that government promised to implement for the northern region including, construction of new Mzuzu Airport, Njakwa- Chitimba road among others, remain a mare oratory since no funds have been allocated for such projects and that other projects such as Kafukurwe road which its contractor has abandoned the work for not being paid are expected to stall for some time. 

Hon Jacqueline Kouwenhoven: Poor roads
In my constituency 

Backing up other members position, Rumphi West parliamentarian, Hon. Jacqueline Kouwenhoven added that government has failed to live up to its promise of commencing feasibility study for Rumphi- Nyika road though Transport Minister had assured her several times that funds the task were available.

Chihana, Kouwenhoven& Kalua: We are abandoned

Hon Kouwenhoven also wondered why government is failing to develop Rumphi district which is a center for tourist attraction for its two national parks located in her constituency, Nyika national park and Vwaza marsh that could assist in boosting Malawi economy. She said the area is almost abandoned as road infrastructure is in pathetic state to the extent that roads leading to the parks are not graded.

Hon Kamlepo Kalua 

Member for Rumphi East Hon. Kamlepo Kalua echoed Mzimba North Agnes Nyalonje remarks emphasizing equity and achieve commitments when formulating national budget

"Time has come that we have to look at the country as one people and that North, South and Center, is one." Said Hon Kaula, "We are all Malawians and when we come up with the budget it should reflect nationalism" 

Hon Kamlepo who warned that parliamentarians from north will not stay quiet for any deliberate attempt to sideline people of northern region, proposed that for fairness, K60 billion should have been allocated to northern region from the K224 billion for the Development budget.

Hon Enock Chihana 

Hon Enoch Chihana MP for Rumphi Central constituency said had traveled the country and observed that it is worrisome development as resources are not equally distributed and such issues may lead to divisions.

He also said it is an insult for government to construct animal university (Mombera University) in the forests of Mzimba district yet the same district has Mzuzu University struggling financially and has poor structures. 

"These are issues that may resucitate federalism calls. We are not happy. Please consider us in this budget" appealed Chihana

The Northern region MPs says they remain adamant on pressure government to stop tribal and regional budget by raising same concerns in parliament, making consultations with people in their respective constituencies and continue engagements with relevant authorities.

Hon Nyalonje, Hon Raphael Mhone (middle) 
& Hon Werani Chilenga: We will push for increment

They further warned that continued sidelining of northern region in development projects will encourage calls for federalism as the unitary system of goverment apparently continues to fail meeting needs of people in Northern region.

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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