Malawi govt bails out students stranded abroad due to Covid-19 lockdown
Government has swiftly come to the rescue of 300 students abroad who were caught in Covid-19 lockdown in various countries.
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Joseph Mwanamvekha said the government has provided K128 million in allowances to both government sponsored and private students who are stranded abroad due to the novel Covid-19 pandemic.
Mwanamvekha said this Friday at a new conference in Lilongwe.
“There are 300 Malawian students in different learning institutions across the globe. 102 are on government programmes while 182 are on private tickets, but we are targeting all of them.
“What we have done is to increase their normal allowance by 50 per cent, which means we are giving them an extra half on top of their normal monthly allowance. So far, we have given out around K128 million to these students to cover their individual accumulative total dues for a period of 3 months,” he said.
Mwanamvekha said these interventions would continue as long as the impact of Covid-19 was still there.
The 300 students are spread worldwide in countries like China, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa amongst others.
The Minister disclosed that government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be tracking down people who went for medical attention outside the country, and are stuck there, and suffering the effects of Covid-19 so that they may be helped.
He said the students have been given 50 percent for three months in advance of allowances they normally get.
Mwanamvekha said the decision was arrived at following increased prices of food and basic amenities induced by Covid-19 pandemic.
He has also revealed that an assessment is being carried out to identify patients and guardians who are stranded abroad due to Covid-19 so that they may also be supported by the government.
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I am a student in the Philippines studying towards my PhD. How have they identified these students? How were they registered. This is a lie. There is nothing like this. Publicize the list.
How many have you students studying in South Africa? My uncle has two children there, one at University Pretoria and another at University of the Western cape, none of them have been contacted to ask them about their bank accounts you shameless Ministers? How did you sent the money? You will be caught pants down very soon.
Hahahaha! This is a total lie! They took our names long ago, no one has come back to us with any form of help, unless they are targeting a certain group of people.
That’s why we are saying this DPP and UDF alliance should not rule our country again,Why lying when people are in trouble outside Malawi? These people, they know how to preach lies.Munthalika and DPP ayi ndithu.Enough is enough, and you said you will distribute money to most vulnerable citizens, how many have received this money,may be only ministers kkkkkkkkk.Bad leaders.
Covid 19 patients are dumped in isolation centres without food or medicine and yet you are sending money to students abroad……these are obviously sons and daughters of well connected and well to do politicians……
Be prepared because after 2 July all coronagate money will hav3 to be returned…
No truth in this, I am a student in China. The embassy did not as much as reach out to ask how we were doing. Not sure why there is spread of this propaganda
This is a lie. Students in China have not received anything. At no point were we contacted to give our bank details. Our accounts also remain penniless
Why can’t you just print names of private tickets students in newspaper kuti tiwone ngati ana onse mwawathandiza chifukwa momwe a malawi akukuziwilani apa mutha kungopeleka kwa mbumba yanu yokha yet inuyo muli ndikuthekelela kowathandiza panokha
Uyunso ndie galu wamunthu mukulephera kuthandiza anthu anu amene aliku south Africa, pano mudzinamizanso anthu apa osangokhala osalankhula bwanji
The bulk of these are sons and daughters of ministers and high profile people who sharescholarship
I am in the US-there is no such a thing. Why is this government lying? Nde kuti ndramazo mwagawana.?You are not even ashamed ndi mabidza