Mutharika goes angry again: People running away from taxes in Malawi

Barely days after he spoke against the tendency by Malawians to steal everything that comes their way, President Peter Mutharika has come in the open to state how much harm tax evasion has done to Malawi’s economy.

Mutharika has said Malawi is losing a lot of money through tax evasion and his government will put up mechanisms to halt such malpractice which he said is crippling the economy and development of the country.

President Mutharika made the remarks on Thursday at Luwerezi during a development rally in Traditional Authority Khosolo in the district.

He said government is aware of other foreign investors who evade paying taxes to the country and externalize forex, a thing which is bad for the country’s economy.

He said Malawi has the potential to do better economically if people and other investors in the country can abide to pay their taxes effectively.

“I am aware that some people evade tax and they also take forex outside the country which is very bad for our country’s development.Malawi would have been rich if people and other investors would honour their taxes. My government will make sure that this malpractice is dealt with accordingly,” said Mutharika.

The president hinted on the importance to have a new law which will check against mineral exploitation in the country saying Malawi has a lot of Minerals but the country do not benefit.

He said in the next sitting of parliament he will make sure that such law is passed to ensure that the minerals are positively contributing to the economy and development of the country.

Speaking of Chikangawa Forest the President highlighted the depletion of Chikangawa forest which he said is in bad condition.

Mutharika said his government is aware that licenses were being dubiously awarded mostly to foreign nationals and has not benefited the local citizenry.

He said even Traditional Authority M’mbelwa do not have control over the forest, hence the need to put the forest under local control to ensure it is protected and benefit the people.

On hunger, Mutharika assured people of Malawi saying his government is leaving no stone un-turned to make sure that no one dies of Hunger.

He said he his government has bought over 1 million tonnes of maize from outside and through Admarc to make sure the hunger situation is put at ease.

Apart from maize, Mutharika said the government has intensified irrigation farming as well as green-belt initiatives in Karonga, Salima, Nsanje among others to achieve food sufficiency.

On development the president said government is committed to uplift the lives of rural Malawians and that is why there has been construction of rural growth centers such as Nthalire, Jenda among others in the country.

He said about 95 percent of Malawians live in rural areas and that is why his government is bringing development to such areas, citing rural community colleges, and even good roads.

Speaking earlier, Minister of Information, Communication, Technology and Civic Education, Patricia Kaliati said the DPP-led government is committed to develop the northern region through a number of developments such as a new TTC in Rumphi, Stadium in Karonga, an airfield in Likoma among other notable developments in the region.

Kaliati further urged those who failed to be as Member of Parliament in 2014 not to bring confusion in the party but work with the President.

Traditional Authority Mabilabo thanked president Mutharika for considering to cheer up people of Luwerezi.

Inkosi Mabilabo asked the president to consider providing people of Luwerezi with a rural hospital to cut the distance of 97 kilometres that people travel to access medical attention in Mzimba Boma.-Mana