LILONGWE (Maravipost)—Members of Parliament have approved the revised 2014/15 budget by allowing government to have additional K32 billion to the initial K73 billion national budget, which was passed in September last year.
The House passed the revised K769.2 billion Tuesday morning to be part of the Consolidated Recurrent and Capital Accounts for the purpose set out in the Revised Recurrent and Capital Estimates.
Legislators were also expected to pass what they call Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 2014/15 fiscal year. The House approved 57 votes and amended two votes, which were deferred last Friday.
However, the Road Fund Administration vote which was deferred last week passed with same figures which members had protested against.
Before passing the two amended votes, some parliamentarians asked the Minister of Finance to provide them with Supplementary Order Paper detailing claimed changes to the amended votes.
Likewise, Lilongwe Mapuyu-South Parliamentarian, Joseph Njobvuyalema and Former vice President and legislator for for Mzimba South-West, Khumbo Kachali also accused government of flouting the procedures on the same.
According to Njobvuyalema, the Finance Minister flouted Section 57 of the Constitution, which states that, any amendment of to the budget figures or activities has to be in writing by the Minister of Finance himself.
“This time around he did not do it and am not happy that the Minister did flout the procedure,” said Njobvuyalema. But reacting to Njobvuyalema’s claims, Gondwe denied to have raped the laid out procedures for Committee of Supply.
