‘The age of donor aid is over’ – Mutharika

…’Aid deepened neocolonialism and Malawi’s mental slavery’ says APM

President Peter Mutharika has said it is time for Malawi to divorce donors  to ensure political and economic sovereignty much as “the country is currently passing through a very critical stage without such aid”.

While opening the 46^th Session of the National Assembly, Mutharika said aid has only deepened the country’s mental slavery and neocolonialism. The president said this has pushed the country towards the ledge.

“When we proudly fought for Independence more than half a century ago, we fought for political freedom and economic sovereignty. For years, we have relied on budgetary aid while dependency mentality deepened and our poverty rose”

The Malawi leader said ‘the country is at a very critical stage’ to move away from the aid dependency syndrome by coming to terms with the reality that the West will not be resuming direct budgetary support.

“Now, there is no more budgetary support. The age of donor aid seems to be gone. Our developing partners remain with us only with support outside the budget. More than ever, we need economic prudence and innovation. Malawians must understand the changing times we live in. We must work and endure our painful path to economic sovereignty. And we must do what it takes to end the suffering of our people”

Donors withdrew aid in September 2013 following the discovery of the cashgate scandal that occurred during the Joyce Banda regime.

In addition to over K24 billion that was stolen by government and Peoples Party officials, auditing by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) supported by the Germany established that more than half a trillion (K553 billion) of public funds were also uncounted for under Joyce Banda, making the 2 years that she was President the most corrupt periods in Malawi history.