Treasury, MEC in blame game over funding

Treasury and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) have blamed each other over lack of funding to cater for by-elections in five wards.

According to the 2015/16 National Budget, there is no allocation for by-elections in MEC vote number 460, prompting the electoral body to put the blame for that on Treasury, arguing it had asked for enough money in its proposed budget to cater for-by-elections.

When asked to clarify on the missing allocation on the MEC vote, Ministry of Finance spokesperson Nations Msowoya said the electoral body was in a better position to explain why its by-elections were not budgeted for.

But MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa tossed the ball back to Treasury, saying they presented an estimated by-elections budget of K403 million, but it was not included in the presented budget.

Treasury had earlier advised MEC to postpone the by-elections because the commission had exhausted its funding for the 2014/15 financial year.

Chief elections officer Willie Kalonga said yesterday they are still talking with Treasury on the way forward.

In the current budget, MEC has been allocated K2.5 billion and, according to document 4, one billion kwacha is for personal emoluments, leaving K 1.5 billion for other recurrent transactions.

Lingson Belekanyama, chairperson of a cluster of three parliamentary committees; Legal Affairs Committee, Statutory Authorities and Public Appointments said MEC is expected to appear before his committee tomorrow to explain the matter.

Early this month, MEC cancelled the launch of various activities in preparations of by-elections in  five wards—Luchenza Municipal Council, Zomba Central, Mangochi Town Council, Chibanja in Mzuzu City and Kalonga District Council—due to lack of funding. n