By Chilimunthaka
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera says the nation is still on its way to canaan due a number of reasons caused by the past Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration including huge borrowing, theft by public servants and abuse of resources.
Referring to the nation being like an old and broken ship under heavy fire in the middle of a storm causing great damage to the vessel and heavy losses of people, fuel and food supplies.
President was making the remarks in his national address from Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Sunday evening February 28,2021.
President Chakwera among other things mentioned that the government he inherited 245 days ago had already an inflation of 11.1% which made things even worse amidst Covid-19 pandemic.
Here president Chakwera told the nation that his administration is presiding over an economy of falling revenues, saying out of the projected MK600.1 billion in the first half of the current financial year only MK564.094 billion has been collected which is 6% shortfall of the projection.
He added that the previous government had public debts stock of MK4.1 trillion and owed Malawian business community MK228.2 billion for goods and services received but not paid for, while the government resources were routinely siphoned into political party coffers.
But the president quickly assured the nation that he is so mindful of the economic pains that many of its citizens are still experiencing.
Turning to how his administration will cushion the poor against the economic aftershocks of the pandemic, revitalize the business sector and get back on track with an agenda for transformation, president Chakwera outlined a number of measures which include subsidising maize prices at all Admarc depots in this season, extension of social cash transfer program which has seen 63,624 households out 199,640 households eligible for assistance in the first quarter of 2021 receiving cash meant for January and February 3 days ago and removing duty from Covid relevant products like soap.
He added that his administration has started settling the MK228.2 billion left by the DPP government for Malawian business community, starting with the SMEs.
On the pandemic itself, president Chakwera told the nation that his administration has set aside MK1 billion for the mass production of masks out of the MK17.5 billion released for dealing with the second wave of the Covid-19.
“Our progress in advancing each of the pillars towards building new Malawi is steady and sure; our review of the civil service to promote servant leadership across the public sector is underway; our refusal to employ the primitive tactics of denying Malawians opportunities on the basis of the tribe or region of origin is intact;
“Our fortitude in shutting the doors of the public purse to those who wish to steal from Malawians to finance their political parties and fatten their bellies is unmoved; and our indiscriminate application of the law to those who break it is constant”, read part of President Chakwera’s national address.
In his 25 minutes address, president Chakwera also spoke on the AIP, disbursement of NEEF loans and transformation of agricultural sectors, infrastructural development, free electricity and water connection and creation of 1 million jobs, saying his administration will never give in to despair and negativity as he said the administration is determined to build a new Malawi one step at a time and one day at a term while giving a good fight against Covid-19 pandemic until Malawi wins it.
