This is a topic I have frequently tackled, especially after Parliament has passed every next national budget, because what accompanies such important financial blueprints seldom changes in Malawi.
The authorisation of a budget by the legislators—and the ceremonial assenting to of the Appropriation Bill by the president—gives some individuals at Capital Hill authority to loot wherever they can.
There hasn’t been much change in how much has been pilfered from government coffers over the years.
In fact, there are assessments which show that more than 30 percent of our national budget ends up not doing its work every year.
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And that is usually your direct taxes; because they are the easiest to steal. Grants have several conditions attached to them, including the funders following up on how every penny is being utilised.
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That is why we sometimes hear that “too much red tape” has resulted in Malawi losing out on support promised by a development partner.
Thieves who do not see a loophole, which will allow them to get something for themselves from a project, will not be interested to see the project materialising.
They will keep postponing important meetings during which decisions on the projects’ progress can be made because they know there is nothing for them in an illicit way.
They will keep documents in their folders without signing them because they do not see any benefit for themselves.
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And the most unfortunate thing is that they will be retained in their positions so that they can muster more power and courage to sabotage another project.
Their performance is not appraised according to the minimum expectations and they are not afraid of being dismissed for being failures.
When it comes to actual government funds—your taxes—such officers are great hard-workers. They are diligent public servants who will ensure every document which requires their signatures is signed.
They will gladly hold or attend lakeshore meetings because they are getting hefty packages in forms of allowances and other kick-backs.
They jealously guard their licences to loot.
Right now, with Parliament having given government permission to ‘legally’ spend some K5.98 trillion in the next twelve months, these officers are smiling from ear to ear because once again, there are projects, real and imaginary ones, which will line their pockets.
They are after your taxes and will mercilessly steal them because all they care about is their bellies and those of their families and cronies.
It is very easy to spot them. They are very reluctant to process documents about funding that they feel will not benefit them, but will even work during odd hours if it is about public-funded projects.
It should be preposterous that even when it is clear that particular funding has not come to the country due to someone’s negligence, there is no sanction whatsoever.
And this happens in a country that is in perennial forex challenges.
The grants which we fail to absorb would contribute to the beefing up of our reserves which keep reaching record lows.
A nation with a troubled economy such as ours and unending forex challenges would do everything possible to capitalise on any kind of international support it is promised.
Of course, there are conditions which we sometimes fail to meet regarding the grants which end up never being remitted or being shifted to another year or another target.
But it all boils down to how interested we really are in terms of accessing the support.
That is why every year a minister of finance reports on a budget’s performance, he talks about grants disbursements not having been optimal.
This is an area which we really needed to look into seriously.
We must all be worried that “free” money does not fully arrive in the country due to the fact that we failed somewhere along the process of absorbing it.
Then, we must also be ashamed that a good chunk of the national budget continues to end up elsewhere.
Right now, there are individuals who are salivating at the possibility of stealing from the 2024-24 budget.
There even could be meetings where people are strategising on how they can “fit” into the budget with whatever product or service they can “offer”.
They will most likely succeed because chains of corruption are long and often involve most of the important players in procurement.
