Tag Archives: Assan Golowa

Human Rights, Lifestyle, Malawi, Regional

G20 challenged on unconditional debt cancellation for poor countries to tackle Covid-19 spike

Lloyd M’bwana
G20 challenged on unconditional debt cancellation for poor countries; FEAM

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Feminist Macro-Economic Alliance Malawi (FEAM) on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 called upon G20 (World rich countries) to unconditionally cancel debt for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in a bid to tackle Covid-19 crisis.

The call comes in the sidelines of The Global Week of Action (GWOA) for Debt Cancellation underway worldwide.

This to contribute raising awareness about the debt issues and call for the cancellation without conditions attached.

The campaign is the way of amplifying civil and social movement’s voices on issues of fiscal justice and public services.

With Covid-19 worldwide, people have lost loves ones; communities been shattered as the global health crisis has a terrible impact on countries’ economies hence the call for debt cancellation.

For instance, Malawi being one of LDCs faces debt crisis from foreign lending institutions that its fiscal deficit continues to widen above SADC set threshold of 4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Dr. Jessie Kabwila, former Chairperson of SADC Parliamentary Women’s Caucus addressing the news conference

Addressing the new conference in the capital Lilongwe feminist alliance observes the stock of debt Malawi has accumulated in the past five years from MK2.41 trillion to MK4.1 trillion is a burden to implementation of developmental projects.

“With such unsustainably high debt, Malawi will in 2020/2021 fiscal year spend more money on debt payments to rich governments or foreign lender institutions than in healthcare or other key public services.

“The situation is pathetic especially considering the current public health crisis of Covid-19 and therefore is no doubt that this will force government to take fresh loans to finance the global pandemic response and recovery which will result in deeper debt problems soon”, reads part of the statement.

Leading the presser Dr. Jessie Kabwila, former Chairperson of SADC Parliamentary Women’s Caucus observes that Malawi including other countries in the region cannot fight Covid-19 amid huge debts that victims are women, children and young girls.

Kabwila says debt cancellation is the fastest way to keep money with LDCs to enable them increase spending on healthcare, providing safety net to vulnerable people, financing the building of economies and among others.

“Debt cancellation should not be a question of mercy or forgiveness but as question of justice and survival,” challenges Kabwila, former lawmaker for Salima North-West constituency.

Action Aid Malawi Executive Director, Assan Golowa chipped in urging governments to commit to proper usage of resources freed from debt addressing immediate needs for vital and universal healthcare and social protection.

Jessica Mandanda, Activista Youth Network echoed on the same that freed resources from debt cancellation must efficiently reach youth on economic empowerment programs.

Feminist Macro-Economic Alliance Malawi (FEAM) composed of Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) NGO Gender Coordination Network, Actionaid, Every Girl In School Alliance (Egisa) OSISA, Activista and mHub.

Malawi

Action Aid Malawi rolls out child-centred Covid-19 program

Maneno Chimulala
Some of the food items donated by Action Aid

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Over 1,600 children who attend Early Childhood learning in Machinga district have all the reasons to smile during this period when their centers are closed due to Covid-19, as ActionAid Malawi will still feed them and offer lessons through radio.

The Organization’s Executive Director, Assan Golowa, disclosed this on Thursday when they handed over corn soya blend and soap to the ECD Centre through the district council.

According to Golowa, they have secured about 150 million kwacha from the Roger Federer Foundation which will support the first phase of assisting children in Machinga and other two districts of Phalombe and Nsanje.

“Since CBCCs were suspended like many other learning institutions, some children have been denied feeding, learning and hygiene practices they accessed at those centres.

“The intervention comes forth with radio programs specially tailored for the children. This will ensure that they continue learning as they listen to the radio with the aid of their parents at home.

“The soya flour will ensure that the children remain health and nourished while soap will ensure that they are always hygienic to avoid contracting the deadly virus,” said Golowa.

According to Machinga District Council social welfare officer, there are 543 CBCCs in the district, spread across 20 traditional authorities.

The office says such a huge number of CBCCs means thousands more children require to benefit from the Action Aid Malawi Covid-19 initiative.