Malawi president Mutharika’s approval ratings turn positive: Measures to cushion the poor
President Peter Mutharika’s approval rating has edged into positive ahead of a fresh presidential election on July 2 with more Malawians on Saturday including opposition social media loud-mouths lavishing praise to the Malawi leader who announced he will take a 10% salary cut together with his Cabinet and redirect the money towards the fight against coronavirus.
Mutharika announced a number of measures aimed at cushioning small- and medium-sized businesses, including tax breaks and an increase of Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (Medf) loans allocation from K13 billion to K15 billion.
President Mutharika also ordered a reduction in fuel allowances, an increase in risk allowances for health workers and an increase of nutrition allowance payable to civil servants with foundational medical conditions by 50 percent.
“We have an unprecedented situation. Government has taken these measures to ensure continuity,” he said.
Amongst other measures, Mutharika directed the Reserve Bank of Malawi to allow banks to offer a three-month moratorium on interest payments on loans to small- and medium-sized businesses.
“ Under this arrangement the Registrar will encourage commercial banks to restructure loans to this sector in order to extend their repayment to more than a year,” said Mutharika.
The President also asked the Central Bank to cushion the foreign exchange market to ensure availability of forex and stability of the foreign exchange rate.
Mutharika also ordered the country’s tobacco markets to be opened and allowed to operate without disruption to protect small farmers and bolster foreign currency receipts. Tobacco is Malawi’s chief foreign currency earner.
“The government will continue monitoring and review situation as it unfolds,” Mutharika said.
Private practice lawyer David Kanyenda simply described Mutharika’s directives as “bold, decisive and pragmatic.”
Most of opposition social media commentators took a sudden change of heart on Saturday when they praised Mutharika that he has shown leadership in the gravity of the situation the country is in following the coronavirus threat.
Opposition leaders could not immediately comment on Mutharika’s address but its is expected they will provide constructive response and work with the government to confront the pandemic and not engage in opposition for opposition’s sake.
On Thursday, Malawi recorded its first three confirmed cases of the coronavirus. On Saturday, the number rose to four.
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That’s the type of leadership we want in Malawi congratulations for the strategies put in place long live H.E.God bless you and the whole Malawi.
Bravo APM we love and we will continue praying for your Leadership I know that your enemies will still hate you and they will not appreciate the wonders that you have done to this nation – Mfiti ndi mfiti basi singayamike but be strong and of good courage God is with you and may God bless you.
Blind loyalty……..kususka basi…..praying for dictatorship and deception…….
That’s what failures do – they do not see when there’s something good and even if they see they would not appreciate they are full of jealous and hatred and they are the true sons of the EVIL one Satan. This is your true picture JONI you are the son of the Devil and in the end you shall reap what you sow – Why can’t you follow what others are doing look at the world at large how people have appreciated the move taken by our wise President APM even HRDC guys are appreciating – surely mfiti yokha ndiyomwe yakwiya!!!!!!!!
WHAT IS MUTHALIKA TALKING ABOUT IS JARGON.
There is Nothing in these measures that talks about how the country is prepared or how they will deal with those people who will be infected with coronavirus….
Do we have enough intensive care beds for Covid 19 cases, do we have enough ventilators, do we have enough PPE for our doctors… the answer is obvious no.
Why is the president talking about reducing or removing duty tax on PPE now after people have started testing positive for covid 19 when we have had weeks and months to prepare?
It seems to me that the president is more interested in the economic side forgetting about the most important part which is the health of the people……nobody no matter how much money they have can enjoy their money if they are not feeling well.
I was waiting to hear from the president what the govt will do on testing people for covid 19, how many and how quickly new hospitals will be built to deal with covid 19 cases….what restrictions are required to stop the spread of the disease.
I also wanted to hear how the govt is tracking all contacts of the people who have tested positive of covid 19 in order t9 stop the spread.
This is a useless speech from the president and am surprised that even the opposition was applauding the empty speech that has not addressed the most immediate needs to deal with the situation we have on our hands as a country.
A President athu APM timakunyadilani you are a smart thinker.
Was he waiting for the worst to happen to be praised by poorer Malawians? after all this money is not coming from his pocket, in the name of donations and aids we don’t even know the amount given we just clapping after this pandemic will start facing the same issues of no proper medication in our general hospitals school facilities and the likes. If he is good enough to handle the problems Malawi is facing should not only wait for Crisis.
I have been relieved by the measures that H.E has put in place. The red flag is that the measures are only mitigating in nature and on the economic side of the coin. Worth reminding each other that this crisis has 2 components; the economic and the health component. The health is the source. We need to also harshly deal with the source. very soft measures have been put in place. I understand that very harsh health measures can obliterate all economic mitigating measures. We need to be creative to come up with social distancing measures that will contain this N-Cov 2 virus aka Sars-CoV-2 that causes COVID. There is vagueness when we ban all meetings and then talk about making sure there is ventilation in meeting rooms; which meetings? What are we saying about church, wedding, funeral gatherings at this stage. Still on the health component, health-workers will require mass training, please allocate such funds that can bring these rusty folks on board quick enough. On the economic component, I am critical of the MEDF loans being increased at this time, these are very risky loans at this period of predictable economic slow down. Who will pay for them?
Overall, Bravo Mr. President, you have shown the leadership in you; politics aside. We should now work to examine and refine the issues I and others raise.
Some people are so gullible, why has the ”president” suddenly started to pretend he cares about the people now that he has lost the presidential chair that he refuses to move out of? When the people of Malawi told him they were dying of starvation, he told them to eat dirt and rats…If he cares about the people, why does he not give the people some of the millions that are being donated for the people instead of living a luxurious lifestyle at their expense. I have been working in Malawi for 16 years and I know what I am talking about.
I have seen clay for sale in the market place for the poor to buy to eat, and have photos of the same. He told the TV program that every town has a new college where people can go and learn, this is lies..he also said that people are buying and selling cars more now than ever..again this is lies..he also made himself look stupid when asked what his strategy for the country will be, and didn’t know what strategy meant. I am very surprised this excuse for a man is still alive..
People in Malawi are fighting every day for survival.. the food prices are far too expensive, the water rates are too high, the people don’t have the money for electricity or water, and continually struggle every single day just to live..Chakwera is exactly what Malawi needs right now..corruption in Malawi is 100% and I have had experience of this several times, even renewing a visa needs a handshake, and the clothes from the clothing banks is another issue..people think that they are ”donating” clothes for the poor to receive for free, let me tell you that is not the case, the Planet Aid bins are received by thieves in Malawi and some of the bales are sold to other thieves and the poor can have some clothes only if they pay high prices for them..
The police are useless..and corrupt. There are roadblocks where so called police will stop a driver for doing 80 mph even if he was only doing 40 mph and then issue an ”on the spot fine” to let them go..I could go on…and on..I love the Malawi people, they are really nice most of them, but the government don’t give a hoot for them…replies will be ignored..
I read somewhere that VP salary is $50,000 a month. I assume the president get somewhere around $100,000 a month. What difference will it make if the president gets $90,000 a month for 3 months? Mind you this is the age of information sharing and we know everything. By the way, the president of the United States of America gets $400,000 a year yet the president of the poorest nation on earth gets over a million US Dollars a year. How sad is that?
Excellent economic, social and health plan.
The president has shown that he cares. Shame on those who have put our country in a crisis just because they wanted power. Chakwera and Chilima should be ashamed.
Umbuli kkkkkkk dziwani zambiri nanu musanayankhule
Question is: What are you comparing his approval rating to? This acting president is the only person who can make decisions affecting National Resources. Who knows? Another Presidential, Chakwera or Chilima may have done much better, probably earlier.
Sometimes, in situations like we are, it is not easy to differentiate between truth and political campaign.
Kodi President amatolipira Msonkho ? Answer is No ….Now let’s put the President Salary at MK3.8 m ,ten percent is Only 380000 .Anakatokhala kuti President amatolipira Msonkho bwenzi atolipira 380 thousand? LET The President start Paying Taxes like the REST of us …PAYE ….Afterall with such a Small Salary Mzaka zochepa Amatopezeka Munthu ndi Billionaire….In this Case if the Presidential Salary was Taxable he could have been Contributing More than 10percent….
You don’t need to answer me but as a person what have you done. Have you bought masks for your parents and siblings etc. It’s not always politics. Even you can do something
You wanted him to announce to you as whom? He might be living on hand to mouth and you expect him to donate what………? The fact that he earns small does not mean that he cant comment on your stupid measures…..your president, akuchita chinyenga aphunzitsi apa…what is 10% pomwe ma benefits onse akulandira…ndiwe ndani iwe kumakomenta mu umbuli wotere…ukuwona ngati sitikudziwa ife….siya…..ngati uli ndi tinzeru totsalapo usayankhepo..koma ngati ulibiletu nzeru uyankhe!!
APM has done what many would never have thought. KUDOS
PRESSURE…..Mutharikas work better ngati ng’ombe yokoka plawu kumakwapula……mkulu wakenso wopha anthu ku Mzuz uja anagwira ntchito yabwino mokoka chonchi mu first term…titachisiya mu second term…chinakumbukira ulesi ndi kuwononga aTumbuka kumpoto mpaka chinapita ……
Chete Chete Nsundwe Boys. It’s OK to commend APM. Probably this will help take away your violent and thuggery mentality.
Chakwera and Chilima achite manyazi. Good job Mr President
Chakwera and Chilima are not in a position to control National Resources. APM, even in his current acting position, can. There is no comparison here . and I honestly don’t know why the two opposition leaders should feel ashamed.
Increase number of ministers then slash their salaries. great strategy
guys do we really need an increase in the numbers yet we dont know much of what they do than may be an appeasement!!!. if we know them then all they do is minding their own personal family developments and uhule both men and women.
mwati chimlilenji anakhalako nduna or what, before!!!
Well done APM. You have just demonstrated servant leadership. Opposition would have loved Malawians to die and acutely suffer economic consequencies of coronavirus pandemic so that they can say APM has failed. Little did they do we have a caring President in the name of APM. God bless you your excellency sir
zanenedwa pa cizungu.
a malawi okuva cizungu alipo angati.
zinenedweso pa cicewa kuti anthu kumidzi kuno timve tokha osati wina akhale pansi alandile ma allowance yomasulila.
ngakhalebe odziwa cizunguwo ena sacidziwabe nde azingotinamiza ndi kusadziwa kwathuku.
mpaka 52, Corona emweyi??
kungokhala ngati constitution?????
komabe paja Bingu ananena iwe pitala uli pompo ,front seat kuti!!!!PRESODENT SAPANGA MALAMULO, KOMA KUNYUMBA YA MALAMULO.
kapena ndalakwitsa konzeni a malawi azanga.
Pitala anadza kuno kudzangofikilila izizi izi ,minister of education, 0.
now this.
mwina anaona kuti azasowa pofikila kuopa kutuwa as he was just a nobody in the US.
Eya mwalakwitsa ndithu. Tikukonzeni wawa. President amakhala ndi mphamvu zomwe muchizungu chomveka bwino timati Executive Power. Amatha kulamula kuti ndondomeko zoikika (policies) ziyende motani. Makamaka pa nthawi ya disaster mphamvu izizi zimachulukira komanso its provided in the law. Apapa president sakunsitha malamulo koma kupanga zomwe malamulo akumulora kuchita
approval ratings? this article though
Politics aside, let every well wishing Malawian commend APM for the bold step he has taken in announcing these social economic measures. However, the President has left out a very important industry in the fight against Covid-19. He has not done much on Water, a prerequisite in the fight against corona virus. Yes, there is a tax waiver on water treatment chemicals. However, the President could have gone further in working out a way to make water free in this period. For a a start, the Government owes Water Boards billions of Kwachas, Let Government settle these debts and cushion the Boards by funding them for, say, 6 months to meet their operational expenses. In turn, consumers should be given a relief or water bill payment holiday for the next 6 months. This policy could go a long way in alleviating effects of this pandemic as we all know that washing hands is the key denominator to fighting the scourge. Water is life. Let this package be extended to Water Users Associations in rural areas who are also doing a commendable job in provision of clean and safe water to the poor of the poorest masses. I Hope the President will see this and act accordingly. Let us all unite in this period of uncertainty. Above all, lets pray for mother Malawi. Let God heal our land. As the President has said, “an attack to one is an attack to all,” United we stand, divided we fall!
The only way the diseases could hav come is via airports and borders..but the govt did not close them ..so their la ck ofvdecision hav brought the disease which make people loose jobs and lives and live like chickens in their house for a very long time the economy will collapse . Let’s see how approval ratings will go up when theres no groceries and goods in shops and if thousands are dying in european countries who have better health facilities wat about here where money is given to president to waste in foreign travel and statehouse parties and flowers in gardens.
Mubwezenso zakuba mwaba zija abakha inu
Still more, we are booting him out.
Too little, too late.
How about reducing paye as other countries are doing?
Onyoza a Peter achite manyazi…janet karim usowa cholemba mkalata yako yachinayi. Sulemani usowa choyankhula. Chakwera ndi kamlomo kako kungoti kakasi. Chilima will regret the day he parted ways with such a patient and wise father figure like apm. Your grand alliance against the good will yield nothing at all. You plan and plot to topple duly elected president, God plans too, and God is the best of planners!! Yamkwana nguwo mlekele apm avale
Chule! Chule! iwe!! bwantansa!!!
Please do the same to deduct 5 or 10% teachers salaries to protect the private schools who are going into bankruptcy. By the time schools open most of them will not be able to come back into business
APM ndi munthu wamkulu..ma empty tins akamapanga noise we know it’s deep frustration koz pound for pound APM is no match.Salute yo! APM
Mutharika is telling Malawians not to politicize the Covid-19 pandemic yet he is doing just that according to articles written by his silly news writers like this tribal writer Zawadi Chilunga. MERA has reduced the price of fuel, not because of Mutharika but the unprecedented world decline of crude oil. Already Mera announced that they are reviewing oil prices. Why can’t he reduce water and electricity tariffs if he is serious about containing the spread of Covid-19? The measure put in place are meant to protect Muli and other companies associated with DPP.
Of course he has to. Him and his ministers can NOT go to USA, Europe or Asia for treatment if they catch the virus. The world is on lockdown plus there are more deaths in other continents than Africa. So all these African Presidents have to act like they care about Africans. These evil African Presidents only care about their welfare, that is stealing money and making themselves filthy rich. Think about it!
A good copy and paste of what other countries have already done. Nothing to praise him for. He is using donor/tax payers money. The 10% of his salary is very insignificant.
Saved by covid-19! Not so fast my friend.
Big man,your are nothing. You are big but your head is completely.enpty full of if mafinya.
Well done Mr President. I do hope everything will be implemented
Commendable job Mr. President Mutharika. You have done GREAT and your comprehensive plan shows you have thought deeply about what to do.
Even a dog would have made some of the recommendations made by APM. And a smarter dog would have left out some of them.
You want to use covid for campaign you think it is a blessing
Gologolo iwe nfithu