When faith leaders met Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Band in Lilongwe on Friday in his campaign to solicit views on how to turn around the economy and as Parliament meets for the mid-term budget review, they told him what to start with: stamp out corruption in government departments and agencies.
The faith leaders expressed concern that Malawi has sunk deep into corruption they named it among the factors that are bleeding taxpayers badly and hindering Malawi’s economic progress.
And they warned that if the situation continues, government can as well forget about economic recovery.
Among the most vociferous of them on the matter was Bishop Mark Kambalazaza of the Charismatic Redeemed Ministries International. Kambalazaza said corruption in government has become deep-rooted.
He challenged the government to enforce measures to take it out.
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He said this corruption is being seen in the lifestyle of government officials, some of whom he said are living way beyond the means the government can legally provide.
“If the government is serious about economic recovery, it should immediately start a life style audit for people working in the public sector,” he said.
“They are the ones who are benefiting from tax payers money, illegally,” Kambalazaza added.
He even gave the government directions as to which departments to start such an audit with.
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“Start with officers working at the Road Traffic and Immigration departments; they are the main beneficiaries of corruption,” Kambalazaza said.
An Afrobarometer survey of May 2022 found that Malawians are dissatisfied with government’s efforts on corruption and want a swift action against corrupt officials.
According to the survey, the majority of Malawians said corruption is increasing and that the government is performing poorly in dealing with it.
“Most want strong sanctions against cabinet ministers and businesses associated with corruption. But more than half also endorse amnesty for corruption suspects who return their ill-gotten gains,” the survey found.
At the interface in Lilongwe, advisor to the faith leaders empowerment scheme David Kamchacha challenged that faith leaders can play a key role in the revival of the economy as they are the face of the population.
“Everyone should get involved if the country is to make significant economic and structural reforms and faith leaders can foster change in the population,” Kamchacha said.
Reverend David Chifungo of the CCAP Nkhoma Synod said the nation’s economy can bounce back robustly if all citizens fulfill their responsibilities.
The leaders have also asked the government to crack down on individuals who are involved in the black market.
In his statement, Chithyola Banda, said meaningful economic reforms can come from the views from every Malawian including the faith leaders.
“The success of the reforms will largely depend on the collective effort of all Malawians, including the faith leaders and the government’s ability to navigate the nation through the challenges it is facing,” Chithyola said.
He said he is optimistic that the nation’s economy can bounce back robustly if all citizens fulfill their responsibilities.
Government launched the Malawi 2063 Vision which is geared towards transforming the nation into a wealthy, self-reliant, industrialized upper[1]middle-income country.
