Malawi government asked to collect US$20m Zimbabwe debt

Written by Charles Mkula on July 18, 2011.
Saved under Malawi, Southern Africa
Tags: Malawi, Malawi Watch, President Bingu Wa Mutharika, US20m loaned to Zimbabwe

Lilongwe – Malawi Civil Right group, Malawi Watch has asked president Bingu wa Mutharika to collect US20m loaned to Zimbabwe and trim his cabinet in order to address the country’s failing economy. Malawi Watch Executive Director Billy Banda told Newstime Africa that “some of ways of addressing our economic problems is to recover the US20m Zimbabwe owes the country, trim the cabinet from 40 to 12 and sell the presidential jet which continues to dig deep holes in the pockets of ordinary Malawians.” However, government spin doctors have urged civil society groups intending to mount countrywide demonstrations against the country’s poor economic and political governance to put aside the demonstrations and attend president Mutharika’s public lecture where they can present their proposals.

Minister of Information and Civic Education Vuwa Kaunda said, “Instead of these people going to march on the streets the president has availed to them an opportunity where they can present their proposals to help the country forge forward. However, Banda said “civil rights groups have on numerous occasions tried to give alternative views to government only to be labeled ‘stupid and drunks’.” Banda said, the theme of the protest march is Uniting for Peaceful Resistance Against Bad Economic and Democratic Governance “A Better Malawi is Possible! “ He said the march will mobilise urban and rural stakeholders to generate a massive response and draft themes for flyers/ posters/banners, use of red cards. “20, 000 flyers and 1, 000 whistles will be distributed three days before the demonstrate date with key messages tackling economic hardships and bad governance such as fuel ,forex shortage and undemocratic laws,” he said.

He said the event will link up with nurses association, council for non governmental organizations, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, as well as Cosatu and other SADC regional NGOs for solidarity. The French-made presidential jet- Dassault Falcon 900 EX presidential jet was bought at about $22.4 million in 2009 and is project to cost an annual US$300, 000 in maintenance and insurance.