MPs go after Gondwe over spending hikes

Parliamentarians yesterday took Gondwe to task to explain the K112 million increased allocation to the Greenbelt Authority when the institution had not been legally instituted.

Lilongwe Mapuyu South MP Joseph Njobvuyalema (MCP) said the House continued to fund a department that did not exist and whose activities are not clearly outlined.

As with other upward revisions, the K112 million additional funding was meant for salaries and wages at the legally non-existent authority, which angered some MPs.

Kusamba Dzonzi, who is also Dowa West MP, said the authority did not have any activities, yet its personnel would enjoy salary increments.

In response, Gondwe, assisted by Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu, argued that by virtue of its initial allocation being approved through the Appropriation Act, the expenditure was legal.

Gondwe said development of legislation to formalise the establishment of the authority was underway and a bill would be tabled in Parliament soon.

State Residences was another contentious allocation whose K600 million increase Gondwe said would cater for junior staff salaries.

He said State House was not recruiting new staff or increasing salaries even though they were lowly paid just like other civil servants.