MP asks PP to come up with own agenda
MP for Chiradzulu North Margaret Roka Mauwa (DPP) has called on the People’s Party (PP) government to come up with a plan of its own instead of relying on continuing programmes that were started by the DPP.
In her contribution to the 2012/13 budget debate, Mauwa, a former minister in the late president Bingu wa Mutharika administration, said she expected the budget statement delivered by Minister of Finance Dr Ken Lipenga two weeks ago to contain details of PP’s plan.
“What PP has done so far is to repeal the laws, set commission of inquiries and fire individuals [from different institutions] particularly from Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Mulanje and Thyolo,†she said.
Mauwa said none of the programmes outlined in the budget under debate, including the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) and the public works programmes, were a creation of the PP government.
The MP said while she commended the inclusion of some social safety net programmes in the budget, she was concerned that only few people are targeted by such programmes while more than 12 million are affected by the devaluation of the kwacha and also need assistance.
“How many people have been left out? One minister pointed out that there is no Malawian who is not poor, how then will the rest of those Malawians left out survive? Some have said this is a pro-poor budget, however, in reality this is a budget of uncertainty that has left many in the cold,†she said.
She said the 2012/13 budget is only serving the interests of the donors, business community and the rich.
Mauwa also said government has left out cotton in its Special Crops initiative, wondering how local industries would develop when such important crops are ignored.
