By Mercy Matonga:
The government says it is working hard to ensure that the gap left by the aid previously provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USaid) is filled, so beneficiaries do not suffer.
This follows a 90-day pause on foreign aid to allow for a review of its efficiency and alignment with the foreign policy of the recently elected US President, Donald Trump.
Speaking to The Daily Times, Minister of Information and government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu said the government is finding ways to ensure that those who were benefiting are not suffering.
“We have an obligation as a government to find ways and means of ensuring that our people do not suffer. We still need aid, yes, but Malawians can be assured that their government will find ways of serving them in the absence of aid,” Kunkuyu said.
He, however, could not disclose President Lazarus Chakwera’s reaction following the departure of one of the country’s top health partners.
“It is President Chakwera’s wish to move this country from perpetually depending on donors to a fully self-sufficient economy where the suspension of aid will have a different impact,” Kunkuyu said.
Commenting on the impact, Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira said the suspension of US foreign aid is a serious blow to developing countries such as Malawi.
“This is a gap that cannot be filled anytime soon, and the government has not demonstrated signs of attaining economic independence,” Kambwandira said.
He further said the suspension of US aid has come at a very awkward time, when the economy and service delivery have completely collapsed.
Last month, USaid issued a stop-work order and award suspension notice to its implementing partners in Malawi.
The agency has played a vital role in supporting Malawi across key areas such as health, education, food security, governance and economic development.
The Trump administration, while maintaining the broader aid suspension policy, is allowing critical lifesaving support in areas such as HIV to continue flowing.
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