Civil society organisations have called on the government to review initiatives such as fossils-carbon levy and invest resources in initiatives that promote the use of renewable resources.
Civil Society Network on Climate Change(Cisonecc) and Oxfam have further urged the government to consider channeling carbon levy resources to energy sector subsidies.
The government introduced the carbon levy in the 2019/20 financial year as it intensifies natural resources conservation efforts.
In a statement, Cisoness and Oxfam also advocates the introduction of tax waivers so that private sector players can venture into energy sector.
”There is a need to ensure that various policies and strategies linked to the energy sector speak to each other when it comes to popularizing technologies that are renewable and friendly to the environment,” the statement reads.
Early this month, Finance Minister Felix Mlusu said the K3.5 billion Carbon Levy was being used for intended purposes.
He said financial resources collected in the 2020/2021 financial year were channeled towards climate change management activities at the ministry of forestry.
Mlusu said the balance, as well as funds collected would be ring-fenced, as agreed between Treasury and Ministry of Natural Resources officials.
According to Cisonecc and Oxfam, more than a billion people globally do not have access to electricity.
The organisation cite statistics that indicate that about 90 percent of Malawians use wood for fuel and charcoal production.
Source: The Daily Times_July 21, 2021-By Mathews Kasanda