Chilima calls on Malawi leader salary cut by half: ‘Immoral to enrich from Covid-19 misfortunes’

State vice-president Saulos Chilika  said described  a 10 percent pay salary cut for President Mutharika and his 32-member cabinet to cushion the impact of coronavirus on the economy as manifestly inadequate for a country that depends largely on donor funding, and where the virus is starting to be felt, therefore calling for further reduction up to 50 percentand cut on their fuel allowance.

Chilima: Extraordinary moments require extraordinary people or leaders to take extraordinary measures.

Chilima, who has donated his 100 percent of his estimated K1.7 million  monthly salary towards efforts to mobilise resources towards the Covid-19 fight, said at a news conference he held in Lilongwe on Wednesdya tha while  he commends the President  for cutting pff 10 percent from his salary and that of his bloated Cabinet  it  is “too little and insignificant.”

He said: “ I, therefore, sincerely request the President and cabinet members to at least donate 50 percent of their salaries and fuel allocations to go toward Covid-19 response.”

Government records show that Mutharika earns about $3,600 a month while his ministers earn about $1,073.

The president, vice president and cabinet members earn large sums of money beyond their salaries through allowances and other benefits.

‘No to self-enrichment’

The move to further cut their salaries and reduce expenditure has been echoed by commentators.

Humphreys Mvula, a social commentator based in Blantyre,  also said  the President and the Minister should be cutting down expenditures incurred; cost of fuel, cost of telephones, cost of huge fuel bills.

“And why can’t they look at an amount which is bigger that should really be seen as serious contribution?”

Mvula told Voice of America (VOA) that  the government should also consider extending the wage cuts to all other political appointees on the public payroll.

Political analyst Vincent Kondowe supports the wage cut but questions how such funds will be directed to the fight against Covid -19.

“Are these resources which are going to be released from salary cuts going to reach the vulnerable people and cushion them against the negative impact that has come about because of Covid-19?  History teaches us how [good] intentions by government have not ended up bearing any fruits,” said Kondowe.

Furthermore, the country’s estranged Vice-President  proposed that Ministers should not be given any allowance as they undertake their duties in the inter-ministerial committee on Covid-19.

“ No-one should look at this disaster as an opportunity for making money or kudzipepesa. It is immoral to make money other people’s misfortune,” said Chilima.

No silly humour’

In his address at the news conference, Chilima also rapped two ministers; the chairperson of Special Cabinet Committee on Covid-19, Minister of Health Jappie Mhango and also Minister of Energy Atupele Muluzi the United Democratic Front (UDF) president.

Chilima said while all Ministers of Health in the whole world were either fighting coronavirus or preparing for it, the country’s Minister of Health,  Mhango instead of rallying his troops and marshalling State resources to fight  the outbreak , was busy campaigning to be the president of the Malawi Olympic Committee as late as a few weeks ago.

He won the polls.

“Mr. President, do you think this person understands the enormity of the task of protecting millions of your people? Is this the time to be doing petty sports politics? Does he have that luxury?”

In reference to Muluzi,  the vice-president said: “ In the same vein, one would be asking exactly what and why did the other Minister donate to China, the largest global manufacturer of medical equipment and drugs? This is the same China that is donating to USA and other Western countries.

“These jokes must stop. We cannot afford this silly humour when lives of Malawians are at stake.”

In his address, Chilima said “extraordinary moments require extraordinary people or leaders to take extraordinary measures.”

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Joloza
3 years ago

You don’t force someone to give Mr. VP. Nobody forced you to give all your salary. It was out of free will. The president and his ministers did likewise. What is the offence? You can only advise your alliance partner the Reverend to make his donation too.

The Knight Templar
The Knight Templar
3 years ago

There is no sanity in what SKC is doing. If he wants to score points he better find other avenues. The very fact that he waited for APM to act and followed later with this advice indicates he is being reactive instead of being proactive. We know he is conjecturing. The question is, will sane Malawians take him seriously or someone acting childishly and shamelessly. I think the latter befits him. Any stupid fellow can come second to score points. Its foolhardy.

Mulopwana
Mulopwana
3 years ago

I listened to the press conference yesterday made by the VP. I was so ashamed to hear him speak like he does not stay in Malawi. He is speaking things that his boss has already addressed. What i made out of it is that the guy wanted to show that he is around and still relevant when he is not. The guy is indeed dull and full of mamina in his head. The more he talks the more he shows out his foolishness to the society. He requested APM to re-locate to LL. Why? The President has the choice to… Read more »

musaa
3 years ago
Reply to  Mulopwana

indeed very stupid VP Malawi ever had’

Tizanka
Tizanka
3 years ago

Chilima is a snake oil sales man, sadly Malawians are a gullible vengeful bunch

Old timers
Old timers
3 years ago

When the president was announcing his pay cut and the cabinet, why didn’t Chilima announce his cut in the first place before the president, he felt embarrassed that’s the reason why he had to sacrifice giving away his salary to outer his embarrassment, so he must be ashamed and stupid by asking the president to cut all his salary because he has done so.shame to you Chilima, you don’t have powers to tell the president what he should do, it’s better to advise him,on how to combat covid 19 and all prevention measures needed to stop the spread of the… Read more »

Acapulco
Acapulco
3 years ago

Chilima must stop dragging the president to join him in the ‘race to the bottom’. The president cut his salary and ministers’ by 10% as gesture of freewill and Chilima cut his by 100% also out of freewill (but also misjudged the president’s gesture because Malawi had registered 5 cases at that time). The Lord loves a cheerful giver, if chilima thinks he has donated too much he is at liberty to revise his donation. But unfortunately chilima went all in, without proper analysis now he can only reduce his donation which will reflect badly. On the other hand apm… Read more »

Mtete
Mtete
3 years ago

Does APM know what electricity, water bills look like? What does he do with his salary?

Luka
Luka
3 years ago

Most of the commentators seem to have succumbed to the abomavirus.

Mwikho
Mwikho
3 years ago

Chilima has more workable Covid 19 combat ideas than the aged useless APM. Definately DPP cadets are not amused.

Chiswa B
Chiswa B
3 years ago

Saulo is derided. He is either high on some illegal stuff or he drunk some stuff meant for people 18 years and above. It’s only fair that people in the same category follow him

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