Government has disclosed that it spent K87, 086,097.50 as total expenditure for this year`s 6 July, 57th Independence Day Celebrations.

According to a statement released by Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and signed for by its Secretary Marjorie Shema out of the K87, 086,097.50, funds amounting to K14, 401,083.00 were paid to Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and K203, 062.00 was paid to Tourism Fund.

The celebrations, which were earlier scheduled to take place in all the country `s three regions, were initially budgeted at K243 million.

In light of this, Treasury disbursed K200 million to OPC through an FDH bank account under the name Chief Secretary to the Government, Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi.

“The public may recall that the celebrations were initially planned for the three (3) administrative regions of the country with the main event in Lilongwe and then in Blantyre for the Southern Region and in Mzuzu for the Northern Region.

“Owing to this earlier arrangement, the total budget for holding the celebrations in the three regions was K243 million,” reads the statement in part.

But amid public outcry and the reemergence of covid-19 third wave, the Organizing Committee reduced the budget for the event to K50 million on the basis that it would only commemorated in the Capital, Lilongwe.

The trimming raised eyebrow as some quarters requested for expenditure report detailing the trimming of the budget as funds were already disbursed.

Among those expressing discontent was the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) which asked the OPC Secretary to produce an expenditure report.

The development prompted Chairperson of the celebrations Richard Chimwendo Banda convening a news conference in Lilongwe where he reported that total expenditure for the celebrations was K87 million.

Currently, OPC says it is in the process of returning the K112, 913,902.50 remaining balance out of the K200 million that was disbursed by the Treasury.