Critics demand political parties refund government funds used for Chilima’s funeral or face legal action

Critics are calling on political parties that received government funds for Saulos Chilima’s funeral to refund the money, warning that legal action could follow if they do not comply.

A recent report by the Commission of Inquiry into the plane crash that claimed the lives of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others has drawn attention to the allocation of government funds for funeral-related expenses.

The report revealed that 10 political parties, including UTM, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF), and Umodzi Party, received a total of 160 million kwacha.

The money was provided to assist in transporting supporters to attend the funeral and burial services of the deceased, among other things.

However, critics have raised concerns about the legitimacy of this allocation, questioning whether it was an appropriate use of taxpayer money.

They believe the funds should not have come from the government and argue that political parties should have relied on their own coffers instead.

In a recent interview with Capital FM, Willy Kambwandira, the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT)  emphasized that the funds should be refunded within seven days.

“The government coffers should not be used to finance political party activities, even in the context of a national tragedy. This is a misuse of public funds, and we expect the parties to return the money or face legal consequences,” he stated.

Kambwandira further highlighted that transparency in such matters is crucial, as the public needs to know how their tax money is being spent.

He also stressed that the involvement of political parties in the funeral process should be evaluated to ensure that no political advantage was gained from the tragedy.

On the other hand, Micheal Kaiyatsa, Vice Chairperson of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), echoed Kambwandira’s concerns.

He said, “It is crucial that these funds be properly accounted for. We need to know if the money was truly used for its intended purpose. Auditing the political parties involved is a necessary step to ensure that the public’s trust is maintained.”

Meanwhile, UDF has expressed surprise at the backlash, asserting that the funds were used appropriately.

Dyson Jangiya, the party’s publicity secretary, defended the allocation, stating that the money was essential for the transportation of supporters to the funeral. “We are surprised by the criticism. The money was spent in accordance with the intended purpose, and the funds were used transparently. The criticism should be directed at the government, which allocated the funds, not at the political parties,” Jangiya said.

“If it was an error, then that should be on government side. Not us. Remember, we do not receive subvention from government,” he said.

The controversy surrounding government funding for the funeral has become a highly charged political issue, with accusations of misuse of public resources making headlines across the nation.

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