Catholic University-based economist, Hopkins Kawaghe says government could have found other means of sourcing vehicles for the delegates.
``For a small economy like Malawi where there are huge debts and is financially unstable due to the Covid-19, hiring of vehicles was a better option,” says Kawaghe.
Government announced that it had purchased 20 vehicles, 10 of which are for Very Important Person-VIP and the other 10 for Very important Person s–VVIP to be used by delegates to the Summit which the country is currently hosting.
Said Kawaye: ``The SADC Meeting is a short time event; I would have expected the government to just hire the vehicles. You know Malawi we are struggling with a lot of public debts, and we have been running budget deficits for a long period of time. I think this was the time to start saving as a country.”
And University of Malawi economist, Ben Kalua believes the decision is a good one as the vehicles can be used for other government duties after the SADC Summit has ended.
``These vehicles will be available to the public sector after the event, going forward are we going to account for the vehicles, we don’t want to hear that the vehicles have since been auctioned to political parties” noted Kalua.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Eisenhower Mkaka is on record to have said the vehicles which are 20 in number cost K2billion.
Malawi is scheduled to host the SADC Summit from 9th to 18th of August.
