Tuesday, July 28, 2009

National budget approved

Malawi's excited and more relieved Finance Minister Ken Kandodo. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Lucy Liponda

Malawians are this afternoon breathing a sign of relief and in celebration mood after the country’s National Assembly on Tuesday morning approved the 2009/2010 financial budget.

Finance Minister Ken Kandodo tabled the Appropriation Bill in the chamber on Tuesday morning before it was approved by an overwhelming vote.

This is the first time in 4 years that the country’s national budget has been approved without any political attachments.

During the last 5 years former president of Malawi Bakili Muluzi and his opposition counterpart John Tembo instructed opposition Members of Parliament not to approve the national budget.

The two leaders were using the then opposition large numbers in order to derail all government development works including the national budget.

Both Muluzi and Tembo, were working very closely to unseat State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika during his first 5- year term of office.

They however, failed to achieve their mission even during the recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections held in May this year. Both Muluzi and Tembo got defeated and were put in their right holes.

Speaking to Malawi Digest after the approval of the budget on Tuesday, Finance Minister Ken Kandodo said he was pleased and excited that government had now been given the mandate to start spending from the national coffers.

“There are a lot of good plans by His Excellency Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika for the people of Malawi and that can only be achieved through this budget that has been approved,” he said.

The minister thanked Members of Parliament for debating the national budget in a more responsible and mature manner.

On the same Tuesday afternoon, Kandodo tabled the Taxation Bill that is also related to this year’s financial budget.

The Taxation Bill includes new tax regulations as introduced in the 2009/2010 financial budget

This was Malawi’s first financial budget after the May 19th General Elections and Kandodo’s first financial document after his appointment as Finance Minister nearly two months ago– Malawi Digest.

1 comment:

  1. Budget has been approved, we would like to say thank you for the budget. We now are looking for delivery of the provisions of the budget. Passsing budget is one thing and implementation is yet another. What matters most is the implementation.

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