Malawi Government suppliers of services and goods, whose payments have been put on hold waiting a verification exercise by the Auditor General (AG), want President Joyce Banda to intervene in their case.
Some of the suppliers, who have waited for payment for over two years, have threatened to seek legal redress if the delay is prolonged.
Immediately Banda took over government, her administration asked the National Audit Office (NAO) to verify the K72 billion (about $288 000) debt accumulated during the implementation of the infamous zero-deficit budget.
NAO corporate communications officer Thomas Chafunya said on Monday before making any payment to suppliers, the Secretary to the Treasury will be writing the AG, submitting documents such as invoices, contract agreements and local purchase orders (LPOs) to be verified.
One of the suppliers said there is no problem with the new government verifying the supplies during the previous administration but that the exercise should also consider that businesses rely on turnovers.
“We are talking of huge amounts of money here and how can a business survive if you have a lot of money stuck with government for over two years,†said a supplier who did not want to be named.
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