HRDC tells Chakwera to reverse MPs ‘inappropriate’ pay rise
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) on Monday met with President Lazarus Chakwera at the Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe where key on the talking points was the decision by Members of Parliament (MPs) to hand themselves an inflation-busting huge increases in salaries and allowance, bringing their salary bill to almost K3.4 billion in the current fiscal year from K2.4 billion in the 2019 /20 fiscal year.
HRDC national coordinator Luke Tembo while confirming the development said his organisation is against the decision which is outlandish, inappropriate and has to be reversed by the President.
He said 193 people from one arm of government – the legislature – will be swimming in opulence at the expenses of impoverished Malawians, majority who are languishing in abject poverty.
“That is true. We met with our President on the double increase of monthly allowance and salary for MPs. We also want government to justify the hike and why perks for other civil servants have only gotten a small margin,” he said.
Tembo told Nyasa Times that the meeting was fruitful as the President has vowed to consider their request.
The President’s executive assistant Sean Kampondeni confirmed during a weekly briefing at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre that Chakwera was in audience with HRDC in Lilongwe.
Allowances or MPs have also increased to K5 billion from K2.2 billion in the previous fiscal year even in the wake of 2020/21 national budget having an overall fiscal balance deficit of K651.5 billion – which is 9.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) –
It means now each legislator will get an extra K1.1 million in allowances per month.
The increase was discussed at Parliamentary Service Commission which unanimously agreed that legislators pay be increased from K862 4000 in basic salary to K948 640 00, allowances for housing which were at K200 000, K400 000 on constituency allowance and K250 000 for motor vehicle maintenance have also increased.
They were also getting K150 000 as hospitality allowance and K150 000 for utility bills. The allowances totalled K1 151 860 per month but with the K1.1 million add on, the allowances have now moved to K2.2 million a month.
Centre for Financial Inclusion and Literacy Consultancy executive director Abel Mwenibanda said government must exercise “restraint” in pay awards’ at a time when many Malawians are facing economic uncertainty.
He said this would sends the “wrong message” and highlights the economic divide in the country.
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AS IT STANDS ITS BUSSINESS AS USUAL
Kukolola posalima kukupitilira dziko langa ,ena amati wakudya zake alibe mulandu koma zikukuoneka kuti “tidye za eni komwa mwa system “Malalwi okomera ma MP. Aphunzitsi ndi madotolo akulira.” Oppress the poor oneday you will pay for it I don’t trust these so called HRDC.Look Mutambo ,if he is really a freedom fighter why is he silent now. If somebody loves the country can stand up and criticize even when you in if things doesn’t go well. Tonse came to power on a point that they want to make Malawi okomera onse .Ndi iwo Ma MP Tonse akanayamba kukana ganizo ili… Read more »
This has got nothing to do with Tonse Alliance. These are MPs of all political parties present in the National Assembly DPP included.
Tonse heading in a SOP and above. Shame
To:His Excellency Dr.Chakweraa&Chilima From: Mzakwacha Nixon Kwazulu Natal SUB:MPs PAY HIKE Your Excellencies, If you are to be trusted by the 58+%people that votes for you,don’t dare to do the above subject matter. We are in sordid/object poverty like.Better lembani wanthu ntchito,teachers, nurses etc that enriching those 193 MPs… We need total new Malawi and not emulating rubbish mutharika was swimming on.Imwe mukukhuta’you got everything on your table but to your constituencies kuli njala ya zanimuwone. Mind you, foundation is very important to everything…you are on foundation’be very careful,we will demonstrate or take you out nicely 2025. We trust you… Read more »
The constituents expect MPs to help them financially so we the people create this demand for money and they are turning to government instead. The pressure created by our selves in the constituency. So if we demand less increment let’s also go to the constituencies and explain to them that they shouldn’t expect MPs to solve their financial related problems. Otherwise having broke MPs it affects how they function in the parliament. Their decisions are compromised.
A heist by our MPs. Malawi is once more wading in swamps as hyaenas are feasting on the carcase. We hired the vultures we won’t complain the vultures are set to tear us apart. The marginalised masses are sound asleep while the thieves are plundering while we hired to protect us from highway brigands. We fought collectively via HRDC via the courts via political rallies today there is a feast for a select one-nine-three minus the eighteen million footsoldiers. DPP system captained Malawi on high seas of corruption the villagers will forever be yawning in hunger without drugs in the… Read more »
Chakwera wake uti angamvere zimenezo|? Tisaname Chakwera watikhumudwitsa a Malawi fe. Osaganizira mmene anthu mmidzimu akuvutikira? Ndikuona kuchedwa 2025
Don’t increase those allowances. It’s the wrong time and quite frankly, they are already getting a lot than other government workers. Invest that money elsewhere. They deserve a raise, but it’s just the wrong time. Heed to this Chakwera.
Yours Truly,
Your Malawian Boss
It is wickedness to demand an increas in allowances when people who tirelessly work under pathetic environment earn pittance wage. Teachers, who open our eyes from non entity to something worth pointing at earn a pathetic wage,nurses come second in our society and the police,these three deserve what the so called honorables earn at present and the honorables half their present wage. Mr president must borrow a leaf from the German chancellor and her administration in wage management. That is what will bring our corrupt country to sanity,am neither a teacher, a nurse nor a policeman but over the years… Read more »
tikufuna a leader of opposition atilankhulepo apa…nchifukwa chani sanadzudzule ndikukana kut ma allowance ama MP akwere…leader of opposition akumatokota kwambiri kut boma likuphela nanga yama allowance wangoti ndwiiii bwanji…che nankhumwa tilankhuleni pilizi
Do you trust Chitsiru China?
yes, the leader of opposition if indeed its him has to say something about this weird decision.Its a pity for 193 pple to swim in this opulence when 18 million pple are suffering. HRDC please move on we are behind you.
ZOONADI MANI ,LADER OF OPPOSITION UYI AKUKAYIKITSA
Anenapo bwanji poti nawonso ali mugulu lo dwereralo
Did Chakwera at the time he was leader of opposition reject any pay hike? Isn’t this the guy who received perks even though he missed partly for months and only returned the money because of public scrutiny?