Parliament last week passed the zero aid budget after different committees of the August House scrutinized it.

According to civil society grand coalition spokesperson Lucky Mbewe, the passing of the budget is a welcome development despite a high rate of absenteeism from some of the members in the house.

“As CSOs we have hailed the decision by the house to pass the budget, their action displays that they put the welfare of Malawians at heart,” said Mbewe.

He said the onus is now on government to walk the talk and make sure that money goes to their intended purposes.

“The passing of the budget is just a step ahead towards making it work but government must make sure that the financial purse is being used for its intended purpose and avoid the diverting of funds,” said Mbewe.

“As CSOs, together with opposition members of parliament, we’ll closely watch government to make sure cases of siphoning money don’t happen again.”

Blantyre Synod of the CCAP through its general secretary Rev Alex Benson Maulana shared Mbewe sentiments.
Maulana said Malawians have high expectations from the budget as it is the first full budget to be implemented by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government without donor funding.

`We are watching and hopefully government will make sure the budget reaches out to ordinary Malawians who are being faithful in giving back what belongs to Caesar,” said Maulana.

However government through minister of information Kondwani Nankhumwa urged the civil service to work towards making the budget a success.

“We are politicians and our role is to make policies,” said Nankhumwa.

“However let me ask the civil society to work towards realizing government`s dream. Let as all work hard so that productivity is in line with the input.

DPPs spokesperson Francis Katsaira assured Malawians his party will not shield anyone who is found using their powers to illegally benefit from the budget.