Malawi's much-delayed budget finally passed

Blantyre, Malawi - Malawi's opposition-dominated 193-member Parliament has finally passed the much-delayed 2008/09 national budget, three months later than it was due. The budget was supposed to have been approved since 30 June, the end of the official fiscal year, to be implemented from 1 July, the beginning of the new fiscal year.

However, President Bingu wa Mutharika suspended the budget session of Parliament 20 June after it was observed that the opposition, who are in majority in Parliament, were not ready to pass it unless all members who quit opposition parties to join his newly-launched Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) stepped down.

When first deputy speaker Esther Mcheka-Nkhoma called for a vote on whether the budget should be passed or not, the whole House unanimously shouted "Ayeee!".

"I am excited," said the visibly relieved Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe, who a dded that "the continued delay in passing the budget threatened to derail development plans as well as preparation for the forth-coming general elections."

Gondwe said the delay in passing the budget also threatened the implementation of the farm-input subsidy programme that resulted in Malawi recording a record surplus in the production of the staple crop, maize.

Leader of opposition in Parliament, Honourable John Tembo, also applauded the passing of the budget, saying this was the end of the current political impasse in the House.

The passing of the budget came after the government and the opposition struck a compromise to reconvene a special session of Parliament 29 September where Speaker of Parliament Louis Chimango will make a declaration on MPs who crossed the floor from opposition parties to the government.