BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the National Budget presented by the Minister of Finance Felix Lafiel Mlusu on Friday 11 September, 2020.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday September 12 signed by John Kapito, CAMA executive director.
In the statement, CAMA said the current budget statement has neglected the promises made by the new Administration during campaign period such as the Universal Fertilizer Subsidy, which has been given a complete name, free connection of electricity and water, reduced prices of passport and driving licenses, creation of a million jobs and removal of taxes on some basic goods and services.
CAMA also said the current budget statement is unable to articulate key issues that Government need to pursue in order to rescue the dying economy and is unpropitious to Consumers instead it is crowded with assumptions that are unrealistic.
According to CAMA, the introduction of a new tax on some products such as cooking oil and taxes on winning bets which has been the source of income to many unemployed Malawians reveal how selective the budget is aiming at benefit few Malawians which defeats the whole purpose of a Nation Commitment Statement.
The consumer body has therefore urged the current Administration to make deliberations in the budget presented in order to instill confidence amongst the people of Malawi by responding to their needs through the national budget.
