The European Union, which is one of the mainstream development partners for Malawi, says it is optimistic of resuming direct budgetary support nine years after it curtailed the intervention due to gross plunder of public resources.
The EU and other donors such as United Kingdom and United States stopped supplementing Malawi’s national budget in 2013 following massive theft of government money by civil servants, politicians and businessmen popularly known as Cashgate.
The hint for resumption was made few days ago by EU Ambassador, Rune Skinnebach, at a media event. He disclosed that the mission has deployed a team of experts who are engaging Malawi government officials on the modalities for resumption.
The envoy said the EU feels motivated to resume budget support because President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera’s government has shown great commitment to improve public finance systems and fight corruption.
Among the landmark events in the fight against corruption has been the arrest of Vice President Saulos Chilima who the Anti Corruption Bureau has charged with six counts.
The United States also expressed confidence in President Chakwera’s fight against corruption hours after the Vice President was arrested.