Malawi’s president and all government ministers are taking a 10% wage cut for three months to raise money to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.President Peter Mutharika made the announcement as he set out a stimulus package to help cushion the economic impact of the disease.
Malawi reported its first cases of the coronavirus on Thursday – one of the last countries to do so. The country, among the world’s poorest, has declared a state of emergency.
Mutharika: Measures to combat Covid19
There is no lockdown but schools are closed and the government says it is urging people to work from home and follow hand-washing and social-distancing guidelines.All social gatherings of more than 100 people, such as funerals, church services and political rallies, have been banned.
Mr Mutharika earns about $3,600 (£3,000) a month but no figure was given for how much money would be raised by the pay cut for all ministers.
As part of the stimulus package, the president announced a series of tax breaks for businesses, a reduction in fuel prices and an increase in risk allowances for health workers, Reuters news agency reports.
He also said that an extra 2,000 health workers would be recruited
President Mutharika latest national address appear to have
earned him some praise across a section of Malawians. While his critics are yet
to respond, but it appears many are satisfied.
We can all agree; Corona Virus is threatening us all and the degree at
which this pandemic is spreading and killing people is sending shivers to many
if not all the people around the world. While Mutharika was announcing the new measures,
his government will take to combat the virus, it appears its announcements like
reduction of salaries for his cabinet ministers, increase in MEDF loans,
reduction of fuel prices and increase of salaries in risk allowance for
healthcare workers that have got people excited in these doom times.
Nobody knows whether the fight against corona a short-term
thing is, or if the pandemic will carry on for months to come. As a Malawian myself,
it is my prayer that the disease does not spread and ravage my country. Truthfully
speaking, if what is going on in Italy and USA or UK is to go by Malawi cannot
cope with this outbreak. Our strained
healthcare system will collapse, and we don’t have enough resources to face
this pandemic head on.
Mutharika- To be trusted in the fight against Covid19?
In as much as I am one of the people who were impressed
with Mutharika speech, I have chosen to have reservations is singing praises
about him and his speech. I applaud him for all those measures but to praise
him will be going a bit far. I would happily wear the title of a hater, but if experience
is to go by, Mutharika will be a victim of his own making. If one can trust
Mutharika just at his word, then I am afraid one doesn’t take issues with a
critical mind and doesn’t look back at the history of the man behind the word.
Mutharika has proved again and again that he is the master of broken promises.
The point I am making here isn’t about ignoring the fact
that Mutharika has put measures to help combat the virus or that Covid19 is
dangerous for Malawi. What I am arguing here is the fact that Mutharika history
of maladministration, lack of leadership and the rampant corruption by him and
his cronies will make all these efforts about fight
against corona, nothing but a channel for them to profit financially and
politically. Mutharika cannot be trusted and it’s an open secret majority of
Malawians do not trust his government. The lack of trust itself will be the
first setback on his fight against this pandemic.
My reservations kicked in when I realised that lack of transparency
regarding the actual statistics of Covid19 cases in Malawi. For days now,
nobody knows the truth in whether we indeed have the Covid19 cases in Malawi
yet or not. When the president decides to be making the announcements himself
without any visible input from health professionals one begins to wonder if the
stats are real or just scaremongering.
This is not helped by the fact that the president presented
to the country that the decision to reduce Fuel prices was his government
making. He failed to acknowledge that the fuel price reduction has been caused
by the complete collapse in world oil
price due to plunging demand due to the pandemic .The price of crude oil in the world has reduced and this is not Mutharika’s government sole
decision.
Here is a president, who deliberately refused to assent the
electoral bills to allow the country to go ahead and start preparing for elections
just because he wants to delay things as much as possible. Yes, he is the same
guy who is refusing to fire Jane Ansah and his team of Commissioners. To him
and his government, any opportunity to delay things is a blessing to them.
Amid the pandemic, rumours are rife that the first lady Gertrude
Mutharika organisation BEAM is one of the first beneficiaries of the financial aid
aimed to fight the Covid19 virus. We all know how; this organisation has turned
into a channel of syphoning money out of the government into certain people
close to the president’s pockets.
Nobody wants to politicise the Covid19 pandemic, however,
when the nation is dealing with an untrustworthy president, then we must take whatever
he says with caution. Malawi would rather follow measures and advise from World
Health Organisation than to massaged coronavirus rhetoric from a government
that is keen to use the pandemic for its political advantages.
He is probably the most popular man in Malawi. As a leader of Human Rights Defenders Coalition
(HRDC) Timothy Mtambo took the battle against human rights malpractices to the
levels where, not only did he inspire a lot of Malawians but also, had politicians
in the ruling government spending sleepless nights. His announcement today that
he is abandoning civil society platform to become actively involved in politics
took many by surprise.
I listened to Mtambo Press briefing today. As everybody
else I was eager to hear what he wanted to tell the nation. We are now used
that press conferences like that are to announce a new wave of demonstrations against
government. However, what was different today was that Mtambo was alone, not
with his usual lieutenants in Gift Trapence or Rev Sembereka. As rumours were already
rife that he was to announce his quitting of HRDC, what we didn’t expect was an
announcement that he will now engage if
full time politics. Yes, the vibrant,
fearless, bold and well-articulated Mtambo is now a politician after announcing
the formation of a people power movement called Citizens for Transformation (CT)
Timothy Mtambo announcing formation of a Peoples Power movement
In his statement Mtambo announced that he is endorsing the
grand alliance of UTM and MCP and their coalition partners. He was adamant that
his mission is to help opposition dislodge the ruling DPP from power. I could sense the wave of freedom covering
Mtambo, yes, he was no longer bound by the need for neutrality that civil
society leaders need to abound to. He spoke highly of the leadership in
opposition of Dr Lazarus Chakwera, Dr Saulos Chilima , Dr Joyce Banda and Enock
Chihana citing that these are the leaders that will take Malawi forward from
the current state the country is in.
It didn’t take long, as I was scrolling my social media to
see the propaganda machine of the government at work. Posts from the so called “cadets”
attacking Mtambo. they played down his announcement as something that has been
obvious. They challenged him that real politics is difficult than civil society
work and many of these so-called Facebook experts described Mtambo decision as
ill timed, ill advised and will all end in failure
One thing they have overlooked though, is that Mtambo is a
well thought man. He is a man who is passionate for his cause. Whatever he puts
his mind on, he goes for it without fear. To assume that Mtambo will be a failure
in politics is the biggest mistake the ruling DPP will ever make. Here is a man
who knows how to connect with people. Here is a man who knows how to inspire
the youths and above all here is man able to pinpoint the real issues that
affect Malawi. A biggest critic of nepotism and corruption, his presence on the
political arena will be a thorn in the government flesh.
I personally feel Mtambo, is the final piece that the opposition
in Malawi needed. The signing of the
grand alliance a few weeks ago needed someone as a unifying figure. In Mtambo
and his new movement, the opposition parties have found a backbone, the extra
motivation for them to be united and go together in the election as one strong
force.
Therefore, for now I will choose to ignore all the noise
coming from the DPP cadets. Mtambo is here to stay and he will remain difficult
to handle. DPP strategists have a lot of work on their plate with this one.
President Professor Peter Mutharika has called upon all Malawians to dedicate time on Thursday, 2nd April 2020 to pray to God in their homes as Malawi faces the threat of Coronavirus which has gripped the world.
According to a statement issued by the State House Press Office, Professor Mutharika says it has been the country’s tradition as a God-fearing nation to combine human efforts with seeking intervention from God to rescue us whenever disaster strikes.
The President says the nation turns to God since it understands the Power of God over every situation we may experience as a nation while understanding our own limitations.
The statement refers to both the Bible and Quoran where the Almighty Lord reminds us that he will hear our prayers and give us protection. The statement draws the country’s attention to the Bible in 1st John 5 verses 14 to 15 which says “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”
While on the other hand the Quoran Chapter 2 Verse 107 says:- “Do you not know that to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and earth and (that) you have not besides God any protector or any helper?”
President Mutharika therefore calls upon all Malawians that we should humble ourselves before God and pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways so that he can heal our land.
On this note, the President thanked all Malawians for cooperating with the Government this far in implementing the measures it has put in place to fight Corona virus saying to this date Malawi has not registered a case of Corona virus.
The President has since urged all Malawians to continue observing the measures against the Coronavirus threat.
President Mutharika then reminded all Malawians that he is calling for prayers within homes as the nation is still being discouraged from assembling in large numbers as one way of preventing the disease from spreading.
First Lady of the Republic of Malawi Gertrude Mutharika on Monday donated various supplies to Thyolo Central Constituency as part of her efforts to contain spread of Corona Virus into Malawi.
The First Lady through her Beam Trust, donated 30 buckets, cartons of soap and chroline to the constituency to be used in places such as markets and health centres. She was represented at the hand over ceremony by her Special Aide Emma Mabvumbe.
Minister Ben Phiri receiving items
Malawi is yet to register a Coronavirus case but Government has taken proactive measures to contain the deadly virus from crossing into Malawi. The donations were received by Member of Parliament for the area Hon. Ben Phiri who also donated 50 litres of hand sanitisers to be used at Thyolo Boma and Khonjeni markets.
Hon Ben Phiri thanked the first lady for the nice gesture she has shown to the people of Thyolo Central
