Mutharika orders fuel price slash, pay cuts for Executive: Tax relief in Malawi

President Peter Mutharika on Saturday has directed the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) to reduce fuel prices with immediate effect and Treasury to reduce salaries of the President, Cabinet ministers and their deputies by 10 percent for three months and direct the resources to fight against the coronavirus.

President Mutharika: An attack on one of us is an attack on us all. This is an attack we must all fight.

Mutharika said this in a special address to the nation of Saturday evening monitored by Nyasa Times on State broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) .

“We are not alone in these tragic times. The whole world is under attack from this deadly virus. Many countries are struggling, many people are suffering and many are dying across the world,” Mutharika pointed out.

He said the reduction of fuel is intended to  “reduce transport costs” and cushion the poor as coronavirus crisis spread.

Mutharika has also instructed the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to open up a voluntary tax compliance window for a period of six month to allow tax payers with arrears to settle their tax  obligations in installments without penalty.

The Malawi leader also said Treasury should provide a special fund to  Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) to buy agricultural produce at competitive prices.

The President has also said government will establish a relief fund  through which well-wishers, companies and individuals can support the fights against Covid-19.

Other measures Mutharika unveiled were  tax waivers in importation of essensial goods for coronavirus management.

“These include personal protective equipemt, hand sanitisers, soap, water treatment chemicals,” he said.

He also announced a waive of non tourism levy to support the tourism industry and a waive of resident tax on all foreign doctors and medical personnel.

“I announced that we now have confirmed cases of the Coronavirus disease. The virus has attacked us. Now we have a fourth confirmed case in Blantyre. An attack on one of us is an attack on us all. This is an attack we must all fight,” said Mutharika.

He also  directed the Ministry of Health to recruit 2,000 health workers to assist in the fight of the pandemic.

“We need more soldiers and human power in this fight,” said the Malawi leader.

He also directed  treasury to increase the risk allowances for our health workers as a matter of urgency.

“The welfare of health care workers is our welfare. Their safety is our safety.”

Mutharika also said  government will increase Nutrition Allowance payable to civil servants with foundational medical conditions by 50 percent.

Other measures is to reduce fees and charges on all electronic money transactions in order to promote use of electronic money transactions.

Mutharika said  government shall continue to monitor the implementation of the new and existing measures and review the situation as it develops, warning that “more comprehensive measures may be imposed.”

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Nyambose
Nyambose
4 years ago

Koma mitengo ya ma galimoto tikamakwera sanasise mtiuzireko eni magalimoto kuti asise mitengo

Nasingwe
Nasingwe
4 years ago

bodza ili. its not what the international observing regarding oil prices ,Idiot.
please stop brainwashing us with your packs of lies..
kuli technology tu masiku ano baba

BigMan
BigMan
4 years ago

Zero impact, what can 10% of Dausi’s salary do for Corona Virus. Stop fiddling Mr President, order proper equipment for hospital staff.

Mbonga Matoga
Mbonga Matoga
4 years ago

There is nothing in these measures that talks about how the country is prepared or how they will deal with those people who will be infected with coronavirus…. Do we have enough intensive care beds for Covid 19 cases, do we have enough ventilators, do we have enough PPE for our doctors… the answer is obvious no. Why is the president talking about reducing or removing duty tax on PPE now after people have started testing positive for covid 19 when we have had weeks and months to prepare? It seems to me that the president is more interested in… Read more »

Mtete
Mtete
4 years ago

Very good gesture to reduce salaries by 10%. Unfortunately all the savings will be wiped out through sitting allowances for the Ministerial Committee on Corona Virus who, we understand are receiving obscene amounts. Please find out and do something about it if this is true. Otherwise we will draw wrong conclusions

CHILUNGAMO
CHILUNGAMO
4 years ago

How will he finance the slash assuming it is a subsidy.

Moya
Moya
4 years ago

” special fund to admarc” that’s the first audit to be done when new government comes in. Mbava ndi mbava kaya nthawi matenda, maliro ndi chisangalalo imababe basi. Let’s keep our eyes open, not in the name of Corona. On surface the measures sound good and appropriate but inside ndi chowola!!

Vilhomwe Ndivimbuli
4 years ago

APM ledership=Jumping around the fire!

Vilhomwe Ndivimbuli
4 years ago

Each passing day I become more aware of hw stupid APM is. Always trying but hitting bellow the belt. He could have strictly stated the changes himself so to judge him as such. E. G. Fuel slash with K150? 😄 😄 😄 😄 😄
Bakha syndrome is reall

Love
Love
4 years ago

You are in pain. Your name speaks of your hate. Sorry my friend. It seems you were never loved. Try st John’s. They offer counselling services.

Ban Wera
Ban Wera
4 years ago

If you are not mad then surely you will become one sooner..Better come closer to Zomba to access mental treatment

Khumbo
4 years ago

Musanamizidwe kuti Peter watsitsa Mafuta mafuta atsika dziko lonse lapansi kamba ka mulili wa Corona Virus, ndie no matter what mafuta amayela kusika mitengo komaso dziko la Malawi lachedwa kutsitsa kamba koti mafuta mmayiko azizathu anasika kalekale Peter amaba pamenepo mukuona, you must act as you went to school cardet yooooo mukugonabe mpakalero Malawi yinadzukatu pano

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