The proposal by Minister and deputy Ministers to have their salaries hiked by almost 600 percent continues to draw public attention. Most of them have described the move as selfish.

According to the leaked document that FaceofMalawi came across from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) signed by Acting Chief Secretary to the President Willie Samute, the Ministers wanted their salaries to be adjusted from K600,000 to K3.5 million a month while deputies demanded their salaries to be increased from K428, 000 to K3 million.

But President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika blasted the demand saying its unethical.

Reacting to the development, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said President Mutharika should fire the whole Cabinet arguing that their proposal does not reflect a merit-based Cabinet that understands the economic status of the country.

“The country needs leaders who can sacrifice for the country and understand people’s sufferings.
This is why Ken Zikhale Ng’oma said People’s Party (PP) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are the same. They both have a habit of milking government”, Kabwila claimed.

When approached for comment, Presidential Press Secretary Fredrick Ndala said its unreasonable to push the Office of the President into personal opinion.

Meanwhile ministers have distanced themselves from the move and shifted the ball to Samute saying, he proposed the idea without their knowledge.