LILONGWE (MalawiTalk) – Department of Disaster is tittering on the sea of shame as it fail to account for the K6.2 which government had released to them to fight coronavirus pandemic.
On January 17, President Dr Lazarus Chakwera told the nation that his government had released K6.2 billion to the Covid-19 Taskforce.
According to the President, part of the money was used as following:
- K60 million on planning meetings;
- K535 facilitating the return of Malawians from South Africa;
- K185 million on public awareness on media platforms;
- K580 million on border patrols;
- K72 million to support victims of gender-based violence during the pandemic with materials and cash transfers;
- K100 million to disinfect schools;
- K50 million to monitor and enforce COVID-19 protocols in the workplace;
- K50 million on mapping where to put isolation centers.
To enhance accountability, a social media activist Mr Idris Ali Nassah filed a request on January 18 with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) for detailed expenditure reports on the clusters above.
“At this material time, DODMA has not responded with (a) the requested information or (b) to notify that it requires more time to find and provide the requested information,” he said.
Nassah has since warned DODMA that should they not provide the information by Monday, February 1st, he shall be escalating this pursuit, including approaching the High Court for an order compelling DODMA to account to Malawians by releasing the expenditure reports.
President Chakwera has since directed Minister of Finance to allocate k17.52 billion to the Covid-19 Taskforce for distribution to nine clusters to meet the demands of the current disaster.
“I have also approved the allocation of 100 million Kwacha to the Christian Hospitals Association of Malawi (CHAM) to supplement the efforts of public hospitals in fighting the pandemic, in addition to the support that Government is giving in the form of wages for CHAM healthcare workers and an additional 150 medical personnel for CHAM facilities,” he said.
Ali Nassah – Demand accountability
