Oxfam has commended the new Tonse Alliance-led government for continuing with the implementation of development projects initiated by the previous government.

Former presidential aide and Country Director of Oxfam Malawi, Lingalireni Mihowa, said this during a budget analysis meeting with parliamentary committees in Lilongwe.

She said that the present government had undertaken the responsibility to continue with key projects like the construction of more teacher training colleges, learning facilities, tertiary education support to enhance the delivery of quality education in the country.

‘In fact, the education allocation has surpassed the commitment of 20 percent of the total budget. This time around it has received 21.6 percent of the national budget’, she said.

She noted that although the education sector had received much higher allocation, the distribution of the funds has not been fairly done.

‘If you look at the allocation to tertiary education, they have received more unlike to low classes where enrolment is much higher and need a lot of support’, Mihowa said.

Chairperson for Budget and Finance Committee, Gladys Ganda, said that it will be difficult for Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to attain desired target due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is understood that many businesses have been affected due to the restriction of goods and services in most countries.

Malili Youth Club Member, Ellen Chimtengo, stated that many youths were failing to access youth-friendly services.

She said that more than 52 girls became pregnant during the lockdown occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘If these services were available, I believe some of the girls could have accessed them and avoid their current situation’, she said.

‘I would like to appeal to members of parliament to ensure that budget allocation to the health sector should consider youth-friendly critically’.

Source: Nyasa Times

Photo source: Nyasa Times