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| President Lazarus Chakwera (Photo Credit: aljazeera.com) |
Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has implemented austerity measures to address the country's economic challenges. In a televised address, he announced the suspension of all foreign trips by government officials, including himself, until March next year.
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The president ordered that any necessary travel during this period must be personally authorized by the president. “Any travel deemed absolutely necessary by anyone during that period must be submitted to my office for my personal authorization,” he stated.
Chakwera also revealed other cost-cutting measures, including a 50 percent reduction in fuel entitlements for cabinet ministers and senior government officials. He has also canceled his attendance at the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai. He said this decision was to show his commitment as he would lead by example by curtailing his traveling plans.
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In addition, the president directed the finance minister to include provisions for a reasonable wage increase for all civil servants in the midyear budget review. He also ordered a lowering of income tax on individuals to alleviate the tax burden on workers whose incomes have lost value.
These measures come as Malawi grapples with an economic crisis marked by fuel shortages, inflated food prices, and a shortage of foreign exchange. The country's central bank recently devalued the local currency against the United States dollar by nearly 30 percent.
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