Dear Editor,
I commend President Lazarus Chakwera for finally suspending his globetrotting to save the ailing economy.
For years, the President and his handlers have resisted public pressure to stop external travel at the expense of Malawians and the forex-starved economy.
Every time he jets off, a huge delegation draws allowances for various purposes, including air tickets, accommodation and meals.
The country is going to save this money if Chakwera lives by his word.
Two times, he has promised to cease international travel only to keep trotting as the economy crumbled to the current low. This is why I take the President’s pledge with a pinch of salt.
If he is serious about Chakwera has suspended external travel saving public funds in these hard times, he must also reduce his costly domestic trips.
Every time Chakwera travels within the country, a huge entourage of government employees draws allowances and fuel reimbursements even for no work done.
The president should ensure that every trip within the borders is unescapably important and that he cannot delegate to a relevant Cabinet minister or public servant.
Where it is necessary to travel, only relevant authorities and public servants should be permitted to attend the presidential function.
I suggest that the list of public servants accompanying President the be should approved by the Office of the President and Cabinet for greater transparency and accountability.
Unapproved public servants who receive allowances and fuel for attending a function outside their field of work should be forced to pay back and get sacked for living negligently as Malawians are suffering the pangs of devaluation.
This calls for bold leadership, not the infuriating bunch that rabidly defends the President’s costly trips when even the least learned Malawian can see’ that careless travel drainsthe economy in need of more austerity measures.
From:
Manuel Mwangala,
Lilongwe
