By Elijah Phompho
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) expect inclusion of Tonse Alliance campaign promises in its maiden budget expected to be unveiled during the forth coming parliament session.
The fourth coming parliament session to run till october is expected to deliberate the 2020/2021 national budget and President Dr Lazalous Chakwera first State of Nation address (SONA) alongside other government business.
Speaking during an interview, one of the civil society leaders Luther Mambala said since June when the new administration was put in place,not much of their promises have been fulfilled.
Mambala said some of the Tonse Alliance campaign promises are policy in nature and can be fulfilled within the short term.
Mambala sighted adjustment of minimum wage to MK100,000, raising of a tax band to MK50,000 , reduction of passport fees to MK14,000 and free connection of utilities like water and electricity as some of the Tonse Alliance campaign promises which ought to have been fulfilled by now.
“Government has been playing double standards on it’s promises. They promised Malawians of subdised fertilizer to all only to change tune by fixing up the number of beneficiaries.
“Government also backtracked on implementation of MK50,000 tax free band bill passed in the July provisional budget, I think its high time government ought to start walking its talk”,said activist Luther Mambala.
On his part another activist Billy Banda of Malawi Watch faulted President Chakwera on not walking the talk on ‘Tonse Philosophy’ in his political appointment saying they are based on political appeasement, tribalisim and nepotism.
President Chakwera with his vice Saulos Chilima alongside other allies in Tonse Alliance defeated former President Peter Mutharika who partnered Atupele Muluzi of UDF in the court’s ordered fresh presidential elections with much expectations from most Malawians and political analysts.
