By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, January 14, Mana: Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda has assured Malawians that his ministry will take seriously recommendations and proposals provided during pre-budget consultations meeting in coming up with 2025/26 National Budget.

 Speaking in Mzuzu during pre-budget consultations meeting, Chithyola Banda said the door is opened for people to suggest to the ministry on how the country can generate own income locally to restore the economy.

“No one will come to develop our nation, hence we need to find ways of how we can utilize available resources for our economic benefit,” he said, adding that the 2025/26 budget will likely depend on locally generated revenue.

Chithyola Banda was responding to remarks by president of Nyika Institute, Moses Mkandawire, who made a presentation on behalf of Civil Society Organizations in the north.

 Mkandawire had accused the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs for allegedly taking stakeholder contributions for granted, claiming that the 2024/25 National Budget was not a true reflection of what stakeholders had contributed during similar consultations last year.

“Honorable minister, I must be honest with you. As stakeholders, we do not have trust in these consultation meetings.  Last year we presented ideas and recommendations, but to our surprise, none was reflected in the budget which was presented to Parliament.

“We represent people; the recommendations are meant to offer solutions to current challenges, hence we expected to see at least some of them being adopted,” said Mkandawire.

In his presentation, Mkandawire appealed to the ministry to include construction of M’mbelwa University, Choma Campus of Mzuzu University and Mzuzu International Airport in the 2025/26 budget.

Various contributors suggested plausible strategies for the country to enhance its local revenue generation, and some of the strategies included investing in mining and establishing local market for minerals besides erecting tollgates on the M1-Road in the north.