Malawi Parliament restrict public officers to use economy-class tickets when travelling

Parliament restricts Malawi public officers to using economy class when travelling as a cost cutting measure in these harsh economic times.

This means  government officials will no longer have the luxury of having the comfort in airlines business class  with priority boarding, access to private departure lounges at airports, spacious leg room, higher quality food and beverages when travelling on tax payers money.

Apart from principal secretaries and chief directors, other government officials who travel business class include presidential advisers.

Nkhotakota South East MP Everson Makowa Mwale  (Malawi Congress Party) moved the motion which received overwhelming support from both sides of the 193 strong House.

Makowa Mwale said the government would save  up to K5 billion (about $7.3million) in public funds if government officials travelled in economy class which is cheaper.

The  business class ticket costs thrice the cost of the economy class.

A Malawian Airlines flight to Johannesburg, South Africa booked today to fly economy would cost a government official $319 (about K226 490) but a business class ticket would cost $1 381 (about K987 415).

Makowa said the money saved would be used for pressing social issues such as buying drugs in hospitals and provision of potable water.

This has been welcomed by Malawians on social media with one person on  Twitter saying he was surprised one day that a cabinet minister was travelling in business class whilst one of the country’s major donor, a diplomat, was travelling in economy class from Lilongwe to Blantyre.

However it remains to be seen how this will be implemented and monitored.