By Linda Kwanjana
Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on Wednesday unpacked measures on how his Government will cushion Malawians following the 44 percent devaluation.
The president directed his Cabinet to cancel all foreign trips and that those who are abroad should return with immediate effect.
In a special address to the nation, Chakwera said he has also personally cancelled all presidential foreign travels until the end of the financial year including the Cop 28 which was due to take place in Dubai.
President Dr Chakwera has made further directives as austerity measures
directing to have fuel allocation for ministers and different government officials be cut by half.
The president has also directed Ministry of Finance to include cushioning measures to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to avoid job losses as well as increase salaries for public and civil servants as well as revising the PAYEE inorder to help Malawians.
The president has further ordered Ministry of finance and Trade in conjuction with fair trade authority to investigate price raising without following stipulated laws.
Finally the president has stopped raising of water and electricity tariffs effected by the government’s parastatals and transfer the same to the operations of the board.
“Those who made the economy suffer like this will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
The president assured Malawians that Malawi will never be the same since Board of International Monetay Fund (IMF) has given Malawi the much awaited facility.
