Centre For Social Concern Demands Government to Reduce Debt, Citing Negative Impact on Development and Taxpayers
The government reportedly owes local and foreign financial institutions a total of more than one trillion kwacha.
Malawi: The Centre for Social Concern has urged the government to lower its debt, which it claims is stifling national development and putting a strain on taxpayers' finances, writes Judgement Katika.
The Center for Social Concern's Executive Director, Fr. Dr James Ngahy, urged the government to address both corruption and its effect on debt repayment because they both impede the nation's development.
In order to reduce the population's debt burden, he urged authorities to take action against corruption.
"The debt is there, and sometimes it's necessary to have debt, but when you don't concentrate positively on paying it back, it becomes difficult," said Ngahy.
"Look at what our president is moving around in terms of a convoy, and going outside the country using huge amounts of foreign exchange, that also makes the impediment of the development of the country," he said in reference to the government's spending practises.
Ngahy stated that the nation needs to invest in long-term projects like increasing maize production for export and properly utilising the tourism industry to attract more tourists and bring in foreign currency in order to achieve economic growth and meet the goals of Vision 2030 and 2063.
He urged the media to inform the public about loans and the use of government funds, and he also called for transparency in how the government spends its money.
The government reportedly owes local and foreign financial institutions a total of more than one trillion kwacha.