2008/09 Budget Finally Approved By Malawi Parliament

Months of wrangling between the opposition and the Malawi government over the approval of the national budget ended on Thursday when parliament authorized the spending of 229.5 billion Malawi kwacha (US$16.2 billion) for the fiscal year of 2008/09.

The budget, which was supposed to be passed at the of end of June,was delayed for two months due to disagreements between government and the opposition on what to prioritize between the budget and the issue of defecting MPs from the opposition to the government known as Section 65 of the constitution.

Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe expressed gratitude to members of parliament for their support in approving and passing the budget.

“Passing of the budget will mean that all developments which were waiting for funding, including the popular fertilizer subsidy program and procurement of the much needed drugs for the country’s state hospitals, will now start,” he said.

He said government appreciates all the inputs which members of opposition brings in when scrutinizing the budget.

“It is good that parliamentarians are taking keen interest in matters concerning the national budget by scrutinizing it through vote by vote,” he said.

Source African Press Agency

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