Malawi leader Peter Mutharika has directed the government treasury to reduce his salary as well as those of cabinet ministers and their deputies by ten percent for three months in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
In his national address on the evening of Saturday, 4 April 2020, he said the salary reduction is among several measures his government has put in place apart from the basic hygiene to deal with the disease which has killed over sixty-thousand people worldwide.
“These resources will help in the fight against coronavirus as the number of people infected by the virus has increased,” he stated
There are four confirmed cases in Malawi so far.
He added that his government will establish a relief fund through which well-wishers, companies, and individuals can support the fight against the disease in the country.
The President has further directed the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) to reduce pump fuel prices in order to reduce the transport costs of persons and goods.
Some other directives include Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to apply for tax waivers on the importation of goods for the management of the coronavirus, waive resident tax on all foreign doctors and medical personnel and for the Ministry of Health to recruit two-thousand health workers.
There are reduced fees and charges on all electronic money transactions in order to promote its usage.
– APA
