Parliament to summon ministry officials, stakeholders over carbon tax

The Natural Resources and Climate Change Committee of Parliament says it will summon officials from Ministries of Finance, Energy and other stakeholders to discuss management of Carbon Tax.

Late last year, officials from Ministry of Finance disclosed that money collected on carbon tax to a tune of K1 billion was kept in government consolidated account number 1 contrary to an earlier commitment by government to channel the funds towards protection of the green environment.

But speaking to YONECO, the Committee`s Chairperson Welani Chilenga says now that funds charged on pollution of air by motorists will be kept in a special account departing from the government consolidated account, there is need for stakeholders to sit and discuss how the funds will be managed.

“Yes, we are starting our committee meeting on January 11 this year, one of the issues we want to discuss with stakeholders is to do with carbon tax, we are going to invite the ministries of finance, natural resources and energy,” said Chilenga in an interview.

He added this is part of the Committee`s responsibility to ensuring that the collected funds are being channeled towards environmental conservation.

“That is one of the issues that indeed we want to make a follow up as a committee,” said Chilenga.

In the 2021/2021 fiscal year, the Ministry of Finance is projecting for a K3 billion carbon levy, the money will now go to the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA).

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