Chimwendo Banda Ready To Prove Cabinet Ministers Got K5 Million OPC Loans

Hon. Chimwendo

Honorable Member for Dowa East Richard Chimwendo Banda is on Wednesday afternoon expected to bring evidence that cabinet ministers took K5 million loan from Office of President and Cabinet (OPC).

His disclosure came in the House when legislatures are demanding Government to approve their delaying General Purpose Fund (GPF) loans of K5 million each which they are supposed to repay between now and 2019. However, Government maintains that with economic challenges the country is going through, it will not be possible to approve the MPs loans.

Leader of House, George Chaponda caused hon. Chimwendo to spill the beans when Chaponda accused the opposition members being selfish for their insistence to discuss the future of their condition of service and not to deliberate on the budget.

Honorable Chimwendo Banda then told the House on Tuesday afternoon that he has evidence that all cabinet ministers got K5 million loan from OPC which includes K1 million for hotel accommodation, K1 million for furniture and another for duty free cars. He added that ministers also draw K45 thousand a day when attending Presidential function.

He therefore expressed concern that Chaponda remarks were unfair to the opposition members and had intent to create bad picture to the public that one side of the house is interested in petty issues rather than focus on national concerns.

Deputy Speaker of National Assembly, Esther Mcheka Chilenje invoked Standing Order 102 requiring the legislator to provide evidence after Minister of Labor, Youth and Man Power who is also Government Chief Whip, Henry Mussa, requested the Deputy Speaker to order the member to bring evidence.

However, several cabinet ministers stood to protest against Hon Chimwendo's alleged evidence and denied to have obtained such a loan from the OPC.

Other Cabinet Ministers including Home Affairs minister, Jappie Mhango and Health Minister, Peter Kumpalume threatened Chimwendo to provide “only evidence that proves that all” cabinet ministers took the alleged loan.

As the house was in uproar state legislator for Nkhatabay Central, Raphael Mhone rising on Point of Order brought in suggestion that OPC ought to bring the information of details of ministers who took loans since that is a public document and not to ask member for Dowa East to bring that matter in the House. This suggestion was seconded by the Kasunu East legislator, Elias Wakuda Kamanga but Deputy Speaker, Esther Chilenje never ruled on this since there was no order in the House which forced her to suspend the proceedings to allow members to sober up.

Since Monday, members from opposition side have been requesting the Minister of Finance to express himself on reasons why the legislators are not up to this day receiving their General Purpose Fund loan which includes K1 million for emergency and K3 million general purpose advance loan.

The legislators are mainly concerned that since their five year term is closer to an end obtaining such loan later and with 40 percent current rates banks are charging they will be heavily taxed.

On Tuesday, the House was suspended twice following disagreement over the same issue and Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe has been discussing with the Welfare Committee on the matter.

Govt Ministries, Departments Be Creative As Resources Continue To Dwindle

Hon. Wakuda Kaanga: Lets be creative

As Malawi continue to face economic challenges, difficult to adequately finance most Government Ministries and Departments, Kasungu North East legislator, Elias Wakuda Kamanga says Government institutions must be creative and efficient in using the limited resources to achieve high quality results.

The People’s Party legislator, hon Wakuda Kamanga was reacting to underfunding concerns being expressed by various Government Ministries and Departments pertaining to the allocations in the 2016/2017 national budget.

“You know, at a time like this when every country in the world, Malawi not being exception, where economies are not performing very well it is very dependent upon institutions across the board to begin restructuring their activities” Said Wakuda Kamanga

Hon Kamanga argued that “it doesn’t make any sense” in the face of dwindling resources to see institutions expanding in terms of activities but stressed for “serious radical transformation” that may translate how institutions work. 

Wakuda maintained that Malawi is endowed with resources but only that people are not working out ways to expand resources they have.

“I don’t agree with anybody that says Malawi has no resources this country has financial and human resources but we are mismanaging resources. We are not prioritizing very well about what is it that we should be doing. If Government can look inside itself they will definitely see that the resources are there but we need to take certain actions that can protect those resources and re-direct them to activities that would make sense to the growth of this economy.” he added

Friends Of Zomba Diocese In Colorful Sendoff Of AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator

Fr. Chimombo pose with Friends of Zomba Diocese

 

Fr. Chimombo pose with Friends of Zomba Diocese

The group of Friends of Zomba Diocese living in Lilongwe Arch Diocese, on Sunday gathered in Area 12 to sendoff Reverend Father Emmanuel Chimombo, newly appointed Pastoral Coordinator for AMECEA (Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa) who is leaving for Kenya to work at  AMECEA Secretariat.

A large crowd of Catholic faithful from Zomba Diocese organised the colorful ceremony and presented their gifts to express their happiness that a priest from home diocese has been appointed to serve the big institution in the Catholic in the region as AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator.

Friends of Zomba going to present their gifts to Fr. Chimombo

Fr. Chimombo receiving presents from Mr. Nanthambwe chairperson for Friends of Zomba Diocese

  

"We are very proud that you Fr. Chimombo, a son from Zomba diocese has been appointed as Pastoral Coordinator for AMECEA Secretariat. This is why we mobilised ourselves to hold this ceremony today to celebrate your appointment and wish you well as you go to Kenya for this new task that the Lord has given you in our church of AMECEA region." Said Mr. Stephen Nanthambwe chairperson of Friends of Zomba Diocese 

Several speakers at the event expressed their utmost excitement for this appointment and offered words of encouragement to Fr. Chimombo to continue working hard as he has been doing while working at Catholic Secretariat of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM). 

This colorful event also helped to bring together the faithful from Zomba Diocese living in Lilongwe Arch Diocese.

Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo

Fr. Chimombo glad with the presents from Friends of Zomba Diocese

In his remarks, Fr. Chimombo thanked the faithful for the support and encouraged them to pray for one another.

"Its quite a big task but with your prayers and help of God I will work well" said Fr. Chimombo while encouraging members to remain united and work together as Catholic faithful and work to continue helping the church.

Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo, a diocesan priest from Zomba diocese was consecrated priest in 1999 and comes from Mayaka Parish.

During its Ordinary Executive Board Meeting held from 19 to 20 May 2016 at the AMECEA Secretariat, Nairobi in Kenya, the AMECEA Executive Board resolved to appoint Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi in the position of Pastoral Coordinator. Until his appointment, Reverend Father Chimombo was serving as the National Pastoral Secretary and Deputy Secretary General.

AMECEA is a Catholic service organization for the National Episcopal Conferences of the eight countries of Eastern Africa, namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Djibouti and Somalia are affiliate members.

2016/17 National Budget Scrutiny Ends Today

The cluster Parliamentary Committees scrutinizing the 2016/2017 Budget are finalising today analysis of budgetary allocations to various ministry's and departments.

Finance Minister, Goodall Gondwe presented K1 trillion budget on 27th May 2016 a budget which is prioritizing agriculture.

2016/2017 National Budget Trim MHRC Budget Down By Half

The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to face more challenges in the 2016-2017 financial year as the national budget has only allocated half of the amount needed by the institution this year.

MHRC submitted to treasury a planned budget of K213 million but the national budget has allocated K110 million.

The 50 percent reduction will scale down half of the planned human rights activities for this very important institution in this financial year of 2016-2017.

Grace Malera

Executive Secretary for MHRC, Grace Malera told the Cluster Committee on Authorities and Public Appointments which is scrutinizing the budget that this is “a record low” funding to the institution comparing to the previous budgetary allocations.

According to Malera, there are several implications to this reduction. She says the office will scale down crucial activities including Investigations, research and advocacy and education relating to ongoing attacks and killings of persons with albinism.

Even the construction project of MHRC long waited regional office in the Northern Region will continue to remain a dream as again this year, there is no allocation to that budget.

“The people in the northern region are people too, they are human beings and they have got human rights. So, this national body, the Human Rights Commission has got to reach out to them but this is one of the implications.” Says Malera who laments that MHRC activities in the north are experiencing number of problems due to lack of regional office

Malera also informed the parliamentary committee that with this reduction, MHRC will fail to hire new officers and solve office space problem. She told the committee that MHRC currently has 60 members of staff but requires 144 members of staff and that this financial year it plans to recruit 16 staff.

She further disclosed that MHRC has eight old vehicles but the budget has again failed to allocate money for the procurement of new vehicles and that this is a perennial issue which is again putting MHRC in mobility challenge situation when reaching out to communities across the country.

Among others Malera informed committee that MHRC is yet to receive from treasury, part of 2015-2016 budgetary allocation which is worrisome as there are only few weeks before the 2015-2016 financial year comes to an end.

“Whatever we are going to receive from July onwards, if it is going to come at the level of reduction of 50 percent, means the number of areas that we would have wanted to reach out to are going to happen at a lessened level.” Said Malera

Chairperson for the Cluster Committee on Authorities and Public Appointments, Hon. Lilian Patel, observed with concern that MHRC problems have remained the same for years now and that what the institution is asking Government this year were very same things that were asked previous years.

Patel then pleaded with the treasury to consider raising the allocation to the MHRC for it to fulfill its constitutional mandate of promoting human rights in the country.

However, in her response, Deputy Budget Director, Loyce Chilimsungwi maintained that it will be difficult to revise upwards the allocation to MHRC because the major hiccup in Government is resource availability.

“We don’t have enough in the basket” maintains Chilimsungwi

Affordable Prices To Domestic Tourists Can Boost Malawi Tourism Sector

Billy Banda (Shot By EYE LEVEL ART_Francesco Jnr)

Malawi tourism sector players tipped to work out ways of attracting domestic tourism for the sector to register growth.

The Malawi tourism sector recently held Annual General Meeting where sector players noted that the sector is registering small number of local tourist’s as compared to international tourists. 

As the sector is thinking deep on ways to make the tourism sector more attractive to local tourists, one of the country's human rights activist, Billy Banda also Chairperson for Malawi Gaming Board and National Lotteries Board says introduction of ‘special affordable rates’ for the local visitors is a solution.

While sharing similar concern with the tourism sector players, however, Banda observed that the low number of visits to Hotels, resorts and tourists attraction places by locals is because charges are much higher as compared to the income levels of many Malawians who cannot afford to pay for services offered by hotels, holiday resorts and other service providers in the tourism sector.

“What the tourism is looking for and to make it more significant and more important we need to start with our selves.” He said “However one of the key challenge contributing to the lack of commitment by citizenry is because there is no policy that guarantee that a local citizen must be charged a low amount that someone can afford to bring a family to such kind of places.”

He suggested that Malawi Tourism Council need to come up with a policy that inspires local citizenry to participate and support the tourism industry and that one of the key component be that tour operators, travel agencies and other agencies should work out packages which Malawians could conveniently afford.

He emphasized that tourism sector is a key sector for Malawi economy and backbone of the international tourism. 

Billy Banda (Shot By EYE LEVEL ART_Francesco Jnr)

“We cannot say tourism is a failed industry, tourism is another big potential for the economy and if ordinary citizens were committed to support the industry and are given fair charges that can also be a better way. Once that is put in place Malawians will go out strongly and support the tourism sector.” Said Banda but stressed that efforts needs to be made to provide domestic visitors economy accommodation, meals and many other services

But Banda also asked Government to support tourism industry with incentives and reducing interest rates in commercial banks. On this, Banda noted that although access to loans is a challenge in the sector, cost of borrowing in most banks are much higher with short period of time to repay.

“Government is also a bigger player” he noted then urged it to look at the local operators needs and challenges saying “They must be given some incentives, even financing mechanisms they have to be given infrastructure banks, loans that are more manageable, loans that are not crippling the hotel sector.”

Issues Making Malawi Tourism Sector Too Expensive For Domestic Tourists 

The Malawi tourism sector is facing number of challenges that includes visa issues, lack of skilled workers even lack of tourism statistics which is affecting potential investors to advance with tourism business in the country.

However, key challenges making the prices for services beyond reach of the domestic traveler are particularly issues on lack of sector specific incentives for investors and lack of access to finance and cost of borrowing.

Florentine Kabefu

Florentine Kabefu, Chairperson for Malawi Tourism Council, says cost of operating businesses in Malawi is very expensive in tourism. 

Kabefu mentioned a lot of duties and taxes, and said “so that is a big challenge.”  

She pointed out that in order for them in the sector to make Malawi a place of excellent domestic tourism and where Malawians can go and have access to tourists products “we need to work on some of the costs that our tourism operators are facing in order for them to make them cheaper.”

During the recent Malawi Tourism Council Annual General Meeting, minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Joseph Mwanamvekha highlighted key steps that Government is undertaking to improve the tourism business environment to make it more competitive and attractive.

Mwanamvekha said his ministry together with the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning are working out on issues of incentives. 

“As such proposals for incentives for the tourism sector shall become part and parcel of a comprehensive tax review which government will undertake soon as part of the ongoing Public Sector Reforms,” assured Mwanamvekha adding that Government is also developing a Tourism Investment Master Plan to guide the development of the sector and it will included mapping and zoning of potential sites across the country and that the plan shall also include development of specific incentives to encourage participation in development on the identified sites

On access to finance, the Minister further promised that Government is undertaking a study on the availability of setting up a Development Bank but at the moment the only opportunities for SMEs are only MARDEF and the Export Development Fund.

“As for cost of borrowing is concerned, it is my belief that as the economic fundamentals or our economy stabilizes, interest rates shall also become more favourable.” Said Mwanamvekha who also hinted that he has asked tourism department to finalise the Tourism Policy before the end of 2nd quarter of the coming financial year

Intra-Africa Trade Can Boost Africa’s Economy-DHL

Hennie Heymans

African countries need to focus on Intra-Trade and rid some of the barriers affecting cross border trade for the continent to realize substantial economic growth, says one of the leading global brand in the logistics industry, DHL.