Government has moved to review expenditure in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in order to ensure effective utilization of resources in economic recovery efforts.

President Lazarus Chakwera made the assertion at the Parliament building in Lilongwe Thursday where he opened the 2022/2023 Budget Meeting and the 5th meeting of the 49th session of Parliamentary deliberations.

In his State Of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered under the theme: Fixing the Systems to Deliver Long-term Priorities and Diffuse Short-term Pressures, Chakwera said: “Fiscal rules, medium term budgets and plans, and annual budgets are meaningless if expenditure cannot be controlled.”

Among the measures to be implemented across government in the course of executing the 2022/2023 national budget, President Chakwera announced revision of benefits and entitlements of senior government officials including the Presidency and all Cabinet Ministers.

He also announced reduction of procurement of vehicles in terms of number, type and size, and that all MDAs should seek Treasury approval before effecting new recruitments.

He explained that the priority areas were fixing the economy to create wealth, fixing production industry to create jobs, and fixing agriculture production to create food security.