- After several months of bad blood between the government and the opposition, Malawian lawmakers authorised the spending of $16.2 billion for the 2008/9 fiscal year.
For three months, the opposition and the government have been holed up in a budget crisis that nearly put the government's functions at a complete standstill last year. The disagreement had prevented the budget from being passed in June.
Malawi's minister of finance Goodall Gondwe hailed deputies for their late approval.
"Passing of the budget will mean that all developments which were waiting for funding, including the popular fertiliser subsidy programme and procurement of the much needed drugs for the country’s state hospitals, will now start," he said, registering the government's appreciation of all the inputs opposition members raised while scrutinising the budget.
“It is good that parliamentarians are taking keen interest in matters concerning the national budget by scrutinising it through vote by vote."
It was earlier reported that president Bingu wa Mutharika had been angered by the deadlock over the budget approval, and threatened to deploy soldiers to seal the parliamentary building if lawmakers remain defiant.
Opposition parties said unless the government appended its signature on a memorandum of understanding that seeks to narrow the political gap between the opposition and government in parliament.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español