(MaraviPost): The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has rebuffed President Peter Mutharika’s state banquet through invitation which was extended to its Member of Parliament (MPs) describing the move as cruelty at its best toward Malawians sufferings.
The head of state has slated the banquet at Kamuzu Palace, Wednesday’s evening, July 1, 2015 in the capital Lilongwe aimed at celebrating the passing of the 2015/2016 National Budget which faced huddles before Malawi Parliament approved it.
MCP’s MPs were addressing the news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Wednesday morning in reacting to the invitation made to them saying attending such dinner was inhuman considering challenges Malawians were facing ranging from hunger, drug shortages in hospitals, poor water supply and road networks.
The press briefing was co-hosted by Peter Dimba, MP for Lilongwe South, Juliana Linguzi, Dedza East MP, Amoni Nkhata of Kasungu Central, Kusamba Dzonzi for Dowa West and Dr. Jessie Kabwira of Salima North West.
“The party’s won’t be in attendance to such unreasonable party the time Malawians were looking for the country’s leadership support as also an austerity measures. Even, Ambulances are not functioning, so. How can we be dinning and wining at State House? This is putting priories on the long side of the coin”, says Dr.Kabwira who is also MCPs spokesperson.
Juliana Linguzi, Parliamentary Committee on health Chairperson brushed the invitation saying it shows how reckless leadership could be towards its people suffering as instead of responding to their needs one sort of holding dinners.
“We have a serious problem with the leadership of this country. How can government plan to use MK300 million for independence celebration while we don’t have enough drugs in hospitals, civil servants haven’t been paid till now and someone is thinking of building banquet halls, for what? MCP wants the President to address these challenges than hosting unrealistic party. What are they celebrating for”, quells Linguzi.
On his part Peter Dimba who is also a member of Parliamentary Committee on Finance accused government of lying to the nation on delay in paying the civil servants saying there was no justification to such a move which has showed that government was broke.
“Do you mean the whole government machinery could fail to mobilize resources to pay civil servants? What about the supplementary budget of 2014/2015 made in February? Where has the money gone? This is a daily robbery from the hard earned taxes Malawians are paying to run state affairs”, alleges Dimba.
Malawi national assembly budget seating is scheduled to rise on July 4, 2015 amid unresolved issues on Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) sale, the MK92 billion scam reports and the PwC MK577 billion analysis reports.
