Opposition MP wants Malawi govt to kickstart Chilima’s benefits pay for the eldery
After State vice-president Saulos Chilima promised to introduce a welfare benefit scheme for all Malawians aged 65 years and above once he becomes the country’s president under the banner of UTM party, an opposition legislator is taking the matter in Parliament with a motion to introduce the state old-age pension scheme.
The planned motion is due to be moved by Zomba Changalume MP John Chikalimba (People’s Party-PP) this Thursday.
According to the notice of the private member’s motion distributed in the House, the motion would be moved to allow for a private member’s bill to allow welfare benefit scheme.
Reads the motion: “ That considering the numerous challenge which the elderly face in the country such as high level of chronic illness,widowhood, disability as well as inadequate financial support, this House resolves that as is the case in Zambia, Kenya and Botswana, all senior citizens who are 65 years old and above , but are not on pension, should be receiving a monthly allowance of K20 000.
“This will lessen their households with predictable income as well as assist them to invest in income generating activities.”
Thursdayis reserved for MPs to deliberate on private members motion.
Chilima has been saying in his UTM rallies thaty many older people are living pathetic lives with costs of goods and other expenses are rocketing and promised that his administration will ensure they supplement their income with a government old age grant.
He said scheme would cater for every person regardless of whether they were employed or not but will be subjected to means testing as other eldery are cash rish to get benefits pay.
Chilima also disclosed that his administration will increase retirement age from 60 to 65 years in order to ensure that people fully contribute to the country’s development.
Acooring to the Global Age Watch Index ,which measures crucial aspects of well-being of the elderly, including incomesecurity, health status, capability and environment , Malawi is the worst place to grow old.
The current political game is that whatever Chilima says DPP is implementing. Its great for us ordinary citizens. It seems the tail is wagging the dog which is great for all us……at least things are moving in the right direction. DPP was sleeping for too long and now the giant is waking up albeit late.
It’s an opposition MP who proposed this and not GVT. Actually the Minister of Gender is against this. Koma anthu inu mumasatila zinthuzi kapena kulubwa basi. Parliament is not government, but it comes up with motions and laws for GVT to run with
ANTHU ENANU MUMAPEREKA NDAMANGA ZAUMBULI .CHILIMA IS THE RIGHT MAN NOT ZINAZI.EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Someone shud do the math and will know it’s totally impractical. Even just 1million people over 65 at K15,000 a month it’s K15billion a month, K180billion a year. I don’t care who is president but coming up with that much money wud be a miracle. Since stats show we have more than 3million of them which is K540billion a year. Our budget is twice that only.
This bill was drafting along time ago….2016 to be precise. And that was way bofore ka chilima started opening his loud mouth.
APM saw this need way back. Kachilima kakungokopera notes za Adadi lol!
Whoever moves this motion is copy & paste of Chilima, Chikalimba anali mboma ndi mai sanapangepo or kuganizira okalamba, & DPP ikumaliza 5 yrs yake sinalembe manifesto ake or kulankhulapo za pension ya nkhalamba misonkhano yawo yonse 4 yrs apa ikusanzika ndiye mudziti boma lapanga kafunseni nkhalambazo zikumasulani inu ma DPP.
Malawi has 3.1 million above 65 years old (NSO). Remove 100000 on pension now. We have about 3 million people eligible for his fund. Currently the public service has about 180000 employees and year on year out we are complaining of a huge wage bill..
Honestly how is he government going o generate the billions per month? We also have a huge deb burden being serviced from as far as 20 years ago.
We really need to help these old people. Honestly. Mwina enanu muli bwino. Mwina mulibe achibale okalamba. Ndizotheka izi tikasiya KUBA ndalama zamisonkho. How many old guys can be paid from the 145million at mk20,000 stolen by Maliseche? Many of the Maliseche backers gave stolen more than these peanuts.
Basically Chilima is already running the country!
kkkkkkk its government business in the house not Chilimas business,shame on the clever fool.Chilima proposed 15000MK and government has pedged it at MK20000.We talk of DPP government.Better take it off from UTM manifesto fools ,its a done deal now by DPP,heheeeeee.Thats politics my friend through Chikalimba ,not UTM through Winiko,eish! Mumva pain!Ndizabereka mwana wina wabereka kale.
Surely you are not serious! You really think implementing an idea from SKC make you look good and not him? The DPP minister refused actually.
Iyi ndi politics. Mumva kuwawa DiPiPi moto kuti buuuuuuu.
It’s an opposition MP who moved the motion. Ubulutu heti
Who does not know government is piloting this through mtukula pakhomo.Who is Chilima to introduce what government cant? His plans gouna be foiled,at the end government will be implimentor and Chilima will cry at the end.Hehe! There will be a song played onceagain,Loza zako Chilima and he will will have nothing to show.
I agree with Tman. Only shall minded and those ignorant of government procedures and systems will think it is Chilima who proposed this. Only thing the Chilima camp does is to go to capital hill and enquire about what government is planning to do then he takes this to the political platform to seek cheap popularity.
the govt been implementing without thinking what chilima been saying so it will surely be backfiring like free education etc
Zotheka koma vuto atsogoleri athu kuba ndi chifukwa sizitheka. Koma with chilima things will change for all. I can see the brighter malawi with chilima
Socialism has failed everywhere. The last country where the socialist experiment was running is Venezuela, look at what has happened to them
Eagerly awaiting the news from parliament, our elders need support and there’s money aplenty for it. If Goodall can just stumble upon MK4 billion to share amongst MP’s, surely similar amounts can be found for these few old people to get some support. Most people will never qualify as Life expectancy in Malawi stands at around 61. The few who do make it won’t receive it forever either.
One thing about Chilima is he is resonating with the people, even when i listen to other political leaders speak these days, you can tell their message is being influenced by SKC and that is a good thing.
As an independent, i support this idea.
That motion should be tabled in the next year’s sitting coz this is not in DPP budget, so don’t disturb their budget. This again is encouraging the spirit of laziness coz at 65 someone can do something for survival. You are talking of 20 000, meaning am paying someone who is doing nothing
Hahahahaha kkkkk mmene akuyanganira chithunzi zha chilima azigogowo, akungomutukwana baasi. Zooti azamubvotera ndakayika ndithu.
Not only Zambia, Kenya, and Botswana, but also in Swaziland. Chimanga why worry about money. What is MRA doing? All our money is funding the DPP’s campaign.
The idea is good. But where shall the funding come from? Are we increasing income taxes, surtax or introducing a levy for the aged on the already expensive fuel? Are we cutting funding on education or health? Have we done a research to find out how many people shall get this benefit and calculated the cost per annum? I hope its not just a political proposal without considering social and economic impact
There is alot of money in Malawi. The FSP money can actually be used for this noble purpose
Chilima knows how to go about its accomplishment!you want him to reveal so DPP copies the idea and claim was already in their manifesto??????
This is a very good idea but done without thorough scrutiny. This time we say we want our civil servants to get their promotions, good secondary and primary schools,good roads etc. I wish campaign proposals are realistic. First of all let’s deal with the ailing economy. Control imports and increase exports, end corruption, focus on self help work and patriotism then increase taxes, running a government is serious business, don’t just say things!
@chimanga: Excellent observation
Some people just speak without thinking
we can remove things like malata and cement subisidies to this program.
its purely political. as Government attempt to take the wind out of SKCs movement, they are unwittingly overburdening the already thin taxpaying core. we might just get a universal healthcare bill next. Chief honoraria increased , silver grey benefits….you have to question where we are getting money for such…G ule Alipo mu 2019
Akuba anyanizi ndizokwanila
Chilima said the funding will come from the pension consolidated fund! He said he knows there’s more than enough money and he knows what to do!!