Chilima takes UTM to Thyolo: Promises welfare benefits for the aged

Vice-President  Saulos Klaus Chilima on Monday held a rally in Thyolo  and said  once his UTM party is voted into power in the2019 Tripartite Elections, he will introduce pension scheme for all Malawiansaged 65 years and above who will be getting a K15 000 monthly allowance.

Chilima during during whistle-stop meetings in Thyolo

Chilima has been holding a series of meetings from Friday that also took him to Mwanza, Chikwawa and Nsanje district.

On Monday at Khonjeni, in Thyolo district , Chilima said oncehe becomes the country’s president,  he will launch the pension scheme by July 1 next year  that  would cater for every person regardless ofwhether they were employed or not.

“From July 1 2019, if we win the elections be rest assured that all poor people above the age of 65 will be receiving money from the government every month,” said Chilima.

“This is very implementable,” said the Vice-President, promoted as SKC, initials for his full name Saulos Klaus Chilima. 

The scheme  will follow reviewing of retirement age from 60to 65 years in order to ensure that people fully contribute to the country’s development.

During the meetings, Chilima further emphasises he would create one million jobs in his first year of office.

The Vice-President broke ranks with the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on June 6 this year and declared he will challengePresident Peter Mutharika in the presidential race in the May 21 2019Tripartite Elections.

Chilima—whom President Mutharika picked as running mate fromthe private sector in January 2014 where he served as Airtel Malawi managing director—had a visibly rosy relationship with the establishment until his declaration and the President subsequently stripped him his Cabinet portfolio of minister Responsible for Disaster Management Affairs and in-charge of National Public Events.

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Tizanka
Tizanka
5 years ago

Socialism has failed all around the world and Chilima who is an economist by training believes it will work in Malawi

Mr
Mr
5 years ago

Even Zambia is trying to implement the same. It is very much possible.
Where is the money? Well some of it is being stolen. So once stealing is controlled money for many projects will be there
Political will is a key

Wanyanga
Wanyanga
5 years ago

This is a lie and taking advantage of people’s ignorance. Malawi is one of the poorest countries and you tell me once he gets in power, he will find money to give to all pensioners? How long will it take to register and verify all those who are eligible? Is one month enough to roll out such big program? You might say I am cynical, but this is not possible. The problem with us Malawians, we lack critical thinking and every time someone comes up with something we like, we clap hands instead of asking questions. That is why this… Read more »

UTM
UTM
5 years ago
Reply to  Wanyanga

So do you mean the claims you are uttering here warrant critical thinking? Sorry mr Wayanga. It seems you are in a cacoon

Hlabezulu Ngonoonda
Hlabezulu Ngonoonda
5 years ago
Reply to  Wanyanga

It seems that Chilima’s plan is to revamp the Social Cash Transfer Programme which village heads are using it in order to get back whatever money has been disbursed to the elderly. Most old people are not benefiting from the Social Cash Transfer Programme because of greed shown by traditional leaders who often send “boys” to demand almost 90% of what has been disbursed to recipients. May be through a system similar to a pension scheme, the elderly stand to benefit.

BigMan
BigMan
5 years ago
Reply to  Wanyanga

DPP govt this year just found MK4 billion lying around and shared in amongst MPs, Billions are being siphoned every month from account number 1 and you ask where will the money come from? What is wrong with Malawians where we think even the most basic things are impossible. When will they become possible?

True Malawian
True Malawian
5 years ago

Chaponda is right why cant he call the allowances benefits.

Yaphama
Yaphama
5 years ago

A Chaponda some countries elder people get a monthly paid they call it elderly pension it doesn’t Mata someone worked in the gvt before or not but those 60 of age above analandira ndarama, wosamangoletsa chilichonse Wawa, VP he has got humanity.

chimanga Chaponda
5 years ago

Pension whether one worked or not? my word. I thought pension is paid to someone who has previously worked?

James
James
5 years ago

In other countries the elderly get pension regardless of whether they were employed or not.

guy jobo
guy jobo
5 years ago

sorry for you.you dont know that there is old age pension regardless whether you worked or still working or never worked as long as you reach a certain prescribed old age.

Duduzane
5 years ago

Chapondaaaa sanayendepo. Ku south africa ndi mwana wakhanda akulandila 300 rand akulu akuluwo 1200 rand and sizikuyendera zoti anageirapo ntchito

chimanga Chaponda
5 years ago
Reply to  Duduzane

check in your dictionaries…… pension is available after retirement. If someone has never worked, what does he retire from? from begging? from idling? Mudayenda maiko olakwika aanthu opemphetsa. Ndalama zopempha si pension ayi

UTM
UTM
5 years ago

These are Social Grants not Pension. kkkkkkk

Kaguta
Kaguta
5 years ago

Entirely agree. Pension is paid to someone who has worked before . Giving money to people who are 65 years old and above but never worked before is not pension but social security. And finding this money will be a problem. K15,000 is equivalent to USD 20 at current market rates. Now with 1,000,000 people qualifying for this- and this is just to give an example coz the actual number is higher than this- you will need at least USD 20 million per month, translating to USD 240 million per annum. When all that has been promised is considered in… Read more »

Kaguta
Kaguta
5 years ago
Reply to  Duduzane

That’s is social security/benefits and not pension

BigMan
BigMan
5 years ago

Semantics

Kuda
Kuda
5 years ago
Reply to  BigMan

Koma man yu government machinery saidziwa. He must have spent much time on the road selling units.

Omukonda Malawi
5 years ago

Next president…

Mike
5 years ago

Rubbish

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