Centre for Development of People (CEDEP) has called for a holistic approach in the formulation and implementation of the national budget.

The organization’s Executive Director, Gift Trapence told YFM online that the current situation where the consultations are done during pre-budgetary meetings only is not ideal.

He said there is need for the involvement of communities in both the budget formulation and implementation.

“We lack in monitoring of the implementation of the budget. People are only consulted as a lip service. It is only when they can appreciate in terms of being consulted and for seeing its implementation,” he said.

Trapence said the new approach can assist Malawians to see where their money is being invested into and its results.

The budget consultation meetings are a series of activities conducted annually prior to the formulation of the national budget by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development.