CSOs still want Goodall to take responsibility
Three civil society organisations (CSOs) invited to a meeting with Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe tomorrow on the controversial K4 billion payout to legislators, say they maintain their stand that the transaction was fraudulent.
The CSOs—Youth and Society (YAS), Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR)—say they will also demand that the minister takes primary responsibility on the issue.
The CSOs have since written Gondwe accepting his invitation for a meeting on the matter at 10am in Lilongwe this Friday.
In an interview yesterday, YAS leader Charles Kajoloweka observed that the meeting with the minister will be held within the seven days that they had given President Peter Mutharika to fire Gondwe and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa.
He said: “Our earlier position stands. The decisions around K4 billion scam must be fully accounted for by the Minister of Finance. The minister must take primary responsibility.
“Our position remains solid. But we are willing to engage and listen to the minister’s clarification of issues. It is important for the minister to be granted the space to be heard.
“It is an opportunity for both parties to listen to each other on this critical matter of national importance which largely borders on
transparency and accountability of our elected government. Malawians are looking for real and clear answers. There must be no room for window dressing.”
Kajoloweka said their delegation will be led by YAS, CHRR and Cedep, but added that they are also taking on board other like-minded CSOs on the matter.
In response to Gondwe’s invitation, the three CSO’s leaders have said Gondwe’s notice for the meeting was too short.
Reads in part their response dated March 13 2018: “We are pleased to inform you that having carefully considered your request, the three institutions have accepted your invitation. But kindly note the following:
“That the meeting be convened on Friday, 16th March 2018 at 10am. This is due to unavailability of our team on the requested date, 14th March 2018 as our members have other equally important commitments to attend to on this day. Honestly, the 48 hour notice was not enough to accommodate this important meeting.”
The CSOs said they also hope that the meeting will be genuine and founded on principles of mutual trust and respect as well as serving the best interest of Malawians.
In the March 12 2018 letter seeking audience with the CSOs, Gondwe said he had noted with regret that facts were misrepresented on the matter, and that he wants to share with the CSOs accurate information.
The K4 billion issue—that initially saw 86 legislators mostly affiliated to the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its working partners getting about K40 million each—came to the fore during the Mid-Year Budget Review Meeting of Parliament in February.
Capital Hill has long argued that the money, described as Quick Grant Project, is meant for rural development, but the CSOs feel Gondwe’s conduct on the matter is not only beneath his resume, but a huge betrayal to citizens’ trust in him as the country’s purse keeper.
