Malawi MPs resurrect ‘cruel joke’ for pay hike amid economic turmoil
Some parliamentarians want the government to hike their salaries and other entitlements in what they call because of sharp in rise of living cost.
Sources at parliament said the legislators, mostly from the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Peoples Party have been meeting Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya over the issue.
“We have also been hit hard by the economic turmoil the country is facing, we cannot make ends meet,” said one member of parliament.
The MPs get a lump sum of K1.5 million a month which include K400 000 worth of fuel.
In addition, they get K40000 per day as seating allowance and K10000 per day as meal allowance when parliament is in session or when they are meeting in parliamentary committees.
They also get K400 per person per kilometre whenever they are going to and from parliament or any other official duty.
There are 193 legislators in the House.
Henry Kachaje, a renowned economist, speaking to MIJ FM on Monday morning on an unrelated issue, said there was need to redesign entitlements of public officers in view of the shrinking economy and shrinking resources for the government.
He said the national budget, although it is K1.1 trillion is lesser than last year’s K920 billion when one converts the money to US dollars at the times the budgets were presented to parliament.
Kachaje therefore said there was need for the government to save money and one way would be to reduce some entitlements for public and civil servants
Some observers think it’s a “cruel joke” for MPs to seek salary increaments in light of economic struggles, saying they showed have showed leadership by asking a one month pay freeze.
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this nonsense is going to stop when i become president in the next 15 years- will construct parliament annex- where mps will be sleeping- food served- they will only get out of pocket allowance – while at parliament transported will be provided- mps from will have to leave their cars in mzuzu and will be flying to parliament- those from the south- mps will flying from blantyre- only MPs that are not more than 250 km from parlaiment will be driving to parliament- once at parliament- no driving around- government official bus at intervals- clinic will be available at parliament-… Read more »
These greedy fools disguised as MPs are really a liability to our economy. I fully agreevwith Kachaje some of allowances do not make sense while those people are paid salaries enough to support their families. We adopted western style benefits and privileges while we are as poor as a church mouse. How can someone erning K1.5 million kwacha be given house allowance? for example and how can a president, minister or PS not pay tax but an ordinary person should? Was this nit designed to make leaders gods? Thus whyvthey don’t feel like servants but masters of those who pay… Read more »
Very bad indeed. This proves beyond any doubt that our legislators are in there for the money, and not the welfare of the ordinary Malawians.
Chambatu ichi!!!!!!!!!!!!