Malawi civil servants given two-week Christmas holiday

Malawi’s 170, 000 civil servants have  again been given a long holiday  this festive season starting from December 22, 2016 and is due to enf on Jnauary 2, 2017,  They will only report for duties on January 3.

President Peter Mutharika granted the holiday to all civil servants except for institutions that provide essential services such as hospitals, police, immigration and airports, to allow them rest and celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities with their families.

Over the past years, government has been giving civil servants at least a two-week holiday during the festive season.

A statement from Secretary to President and Cabinet , George Mkondiwa said the “extended period of festivities” does not mean declaration of public holidays in Malawi.

Government has declared December 27 on Tuesday as a public holiday since Christmas  Day falls on s Sunday and that the following Monday is another public holiday, Boxing Day.

Mkondiwa said d the President has granted the holiday “to allow civil servants ample time to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festive season with their families.”

He also said Mutharika wants to allow the civil servants  have adequate time to gtravel to and return from various destinations during the festive season “while giving them adequate time to rest.”

With the declaration it would mean that government will save millions of Kwacha as all government vehicles would be grounded and money meant for allowances saved.

Malawi government has embarked on an economic austerity measures following aid freeze by donors due to financial plunder at Capital Hill, the seat of government.