Donors grill Malawi’s VP over government theft A high powered delegation of heads of mission from eight development partners on Thursday held closed door talks with Malawi Vice President Khumbo Kachali and other government officials, where the donors expressed worry over the continued reports of plunder of public finances. The talks which lasted over two hours were held at VP’s offices at Capital Hill in Lilongwe. In attendance included British High Commissioner Michael Nevin, German Ambassador Peter Woeste, American Ambassador Jeanine Jackson, Norwegian Ambassador Asbjorn Eidhammer, Ambassador from Ireland and a representative from the Japan government, among others. Kachali was flanked by Inspector General Loti Dzonzi, Chief Secretary in the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) Hawa Ndilowe, Foreign Affairs Minister Ephraim Mganda Chiume, and other principal secretaries represented the government. “We wanted to get first hand information from government on what measures have been taken following these reports of massive looting at Capital Hill. We are also worried to hear that the information that IFMIS has crashed. I hope government understands what is at stake here.” “You can’t keep blaming the system. It is human beings who are plundering. As donors, we agree with those who are saying that the reports of rampant corruption and theft of public funds is just a tip of the iceberg,” German Ambassador Peter Woeste told The MNO in an interview after the meeting. The Ambassador warned that if the country’s leadership does not move with speed to address the challenges, the country risks losing the gains made during the period the Joyce Banda administration has been in office. “The country needs to be strict with its austerity measures. There is also need to cut further on other expenditures if indeed government wants to be seen to be serious,” he said. Kachali who avoided taking questions from journalists after meeting the development partners only read out a statement where he pledged government’s commitment in investigating all the cases and getting to the bottom of the matter. “Government will not sit idle and watch taxpayer’s money being looted. We will leave no stone unturned in this fight. We will not be selective,” he said.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:32:53 +0000
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