Chakwera blasts Mutharika, salary hike ‘unethical’:  Malawi in crisis

Leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera has  said  the prospect of a large pay rise for  President, vice president, ministers and MPs  including himself was “simply unethical” at a time when the economy is ailing and public-sector workers want better pay.

Chakwera and MCP top brass addressing a news conference.-Photo by Alfred Chauwa, Nyasa Times
Chakwera and MCP top brass addressing a news conference.-Photo by Alfred Chauwa, Nyasa Times

Chakwera during a news conference on Monday accused President Peter Mutharika of engineering a salary increase for himself, his deputy, ministers and lawmakers and later defer his new pay to gain political mileage.

He said the hefty pay rise is “wrong” and illegal because they were done without the approval of the Parliament.

“We never at any time discussed about this, the President has just done that on his own,” said Chakwera who was visibly charged.

He said: ” I don’t think its right to affect this pay rise at a time when nurses, teachers, people in the private sector are going through a pay squeeze and facing incredibly difficult economic circumstances.”

“I am told the president has rejected the hike but who has received the money so far, who approved the increment.  Why am I just hearing this from the media. This in my understanding is meant to divert attention of Malawians from real issues. I believe in servant leadership how one man can approve such huge increment without members of Parliament,” queried Chakwera.

Commenting on the salary hike issue,  MCP  parliamentary spokesman, Joseph Njobvuyalema cited Section 82 being the law which gives powers for the salary of President and his vice to be increased by parliament with consultation of the president.

Chakwera,  who is also Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, said it  would be incomprehensible to millions of taxpayers who pay the salary of public office holders  to see the new package implemented.

He called on government to listen to the cries of public servants and reminded the Democratic Progressive Party government that they had promised to remunerate civil servants adequately if voted into office.

Chakwera said it is unfortunate that government is failing to resolve the impasse with the Judiciary over salary hike, accusing President Mutharika of not showing seriousness on issues of national importance.

The MCP president also accused  government for failing to resolve the ‘Nac-gate’ – National Aids Commission(NAC) where cash was given to Muhlakho wa Alhomwe and Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAM).

He requested the institutions to refund the money to NAC.

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Naphurwe Mmainje
Naphurwe Mmainje
9 years ago

He too should not accept the increament to demonstrate that he means what he says. Other wise all hear turn to mere noise.

sd
sd
9 years ago

Losers MCP

Jarsn Phiko
Jarsn Phiko
9 years ago

A Mutharika sangayendetse dziko. Timadziwa kuti m’bale wawo uja adaliko ndi nzeru osati awa ai. He is so slow to think, imagine the way he talks and articulates issues, he is so empty and numb. Mulungu amafuna a Malawi tiwone kusiyana kwa mtsogoleri ndi mtumiki. Mtsogoleri amachita zokomera iye, pamene mtumiki amachita zokomera anthu ambiri. Awa sangatithandize. Koma zili bwino zedi chifukwa tibvutika tonse pamodzi ndi amene amapanga phokoso lokondwera kuti Pitala wawina. Boti likumira iri. Otithandiza aja tiyiwale sangabwere ai chifukwa tisayiwale kuti Boma la DPP ndilomwelo lidathamangitsa azungu aja. Lero mukuwafuna, zibwana eti? Azingopha nthawi mpaka tifinyika eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… Read more »

mngoni
mngoni
9 years ago

chakwera is right

Zayambika
Zayambika
9 years ago

Munakana anthu abwino kufuna mbavayi (APM) ndiye mukulira chiani a Malawi, tiyeni Nazi simunati mudziwaso

w.moir
9 years ago

very disappointed and disgusting,i mean realy,poor Malawi.

Mccarthy
9 years ago

You malawians! U don’t know what you want, u already rejected Chakwera, you’re fools.

ife
ife
9 years ago

Stop complaining that’s wat you voted for

BigMan
BigMan
9 years ago

Chakwera is a hypocrite, he is receiving his new hefty salary.

kamulinde
9 years ago

Amalawi majority ndi kupusa kumativuta pompano brother wake wa munthu ameneyu wativuta ngati kwambiri kupha anthu osalakwa ,chauta wamutenga ,brother kufuna kutenga boma mwakuba, zakanika apo mukamuvoteranso,umbuli umenewu udzatha liti? kulemerako adzingolemera okha basi pano ndi izo ivutika ndi nomwenu kaya zanu komko

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