Mutharika gets 80% pay rise: Malawi ministers, MPs salary increased
Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika has received an 80 per cent salary increase and will now earn K2.7 million ( ($5,284) per month from K1.5 million (($2,935).
The President’s salary has been unchanged since 2009 when Mutharika’s brother Bingu wa Mutharika was in power. He died in office in 2012 following a sudden heart attack.
His predecessor Joyce Banda however took pay cut.
Government spokesman Kondwani Nankhumwa has confirmed that the President’s pay has been increased despite Mutharika saying in August that he would not raise his salary “anytime soon”. And that there is also new salary for vice president, ministers.
Nnakhumwa said that the pay raise, which goes into effect as of October 1, is in line with the 2014/2015 budget.
“When presenting the budget, government had projections, and this is exactly why the salaries have been hiked,” Nankhumwa, who is also Information Minister, said.
The salary of the Vice-President has also risen by the same percentage and is now at 1.8 million kwacha ($3,523) per month from 1 million kwacha ($1,957).
Besides roughly $1 500 in pay, ministers receive benefits such as $2 000 in monthly fuel subsidies. In contrast, Malawi’s 170 000 public servants earn $100 a month on average.
MPs’ salaries have also been increased to cover the higher cost of living.
Acting Clerk of Parliament Roosevelt Gondwe confirmed the new salary structure for MPs was indeed affected from October 1.
Malawi is weathering an economic storm after donors, which contribute 40% to the state budget, last year withdrew aid over a massive government corruption ‘cashgate’ scandal.
The country has also been faced with labour dispute from several institutions with staff at Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) who have given the government a seven-day ultimatum to review their working conditions or risk an indefinite strike like the current Judiciary strike which has shut down the courts in the country while parliament staff have threatened to down tools as well.
University of Malawi support staff comprising Chancellor College, the Polytechnic and College of Medicine are withdrawing their labour aimed at forcing government to give them 45 percent salary increase.
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These guys take Malawians for granted. We must go on a nation wide strike to push the Peter and his wagon of thugs to keep their campaign promises.
U$ 5,284 per month only! I thought Bingu was receiving U$ 12,000 per month? Our country is really poor because this just R52,840 per month for a clerk in RSA.
kungova kuti kuwerenga amayambira pa 1 adakakomzanso position ya enawo
nthawi yawo
Mutharika is a big crook.He speaks one thing and does the opposite.He preaches national unity but hepractices nepotism by favouring his home boys/girls.This is a stinking goverment.Let me urge those on strike to ADD MORE FIRE so that you burn down all these DPP Itiboribos and bootlickers.STUPID!!!
Moyo uzikomela aliyense osati only Politicians. Mukufuna kunjoya ana anu akununkha usiwa. Konzani kaye mavuto, aliyense asangalale nde nkumakweza malipilo anuwo. Kodi mukufuna kuti buledi muzigula nokha? WHERE IS YOUR CONCIOUSNESS???
zinthu zafika posauzana
I don’t understand politicians they always keep on repeating the same mistakes. But why?????? The timing is extremely bad, people are not fools these days you can’t take them for granted.
its part of life
I strongly doubt if this brand of a president has advisors who had a good Apgar score say (8/10 10/10) at birth. I don’t think this would be proper time political to implement such a thing. Already government departments are rife with strikes. How are you going to quell the rage of the striking civil servants if you seem to be in the same hungry for salary increase?