President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has said his government will support the newly launched Gertrude Mutharika Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAM).

Mutharika said this during the launch of the trust at Kamuzu Palace on Saturday evening.

In his speech, Mutharika expressed his disappointment on how Malawians manage waste, urging them to change their mindset.

“This morning I accompanied the First Lady on a cleaning exercise in Phwetekele, Area 36 and Ntaya. What we saw is pathetic. The sad thing is that the costs of poor sanitation are inequitably distributed with the highest economic burden falling disproportionately on the poorest. The average cost associated with poor sanitation, constitutes a much greater proportion of a poor person’s income than that of a wealthier person.

“Government needs institutions like the Gertrude Mutharika Beautify Malawi in the fight against poverty and disease. We will support the Trust just like we do with other Trusts, CSOs and NGOs in their work”, said Mutharika.

He further proposed for the trust to come up with a day where all Malawians will volunteer to clean Malawi.

“I would like to propose to you and your Board, Madame First Lady, that you identify a day to be called “National Beautify Malawi Day” whereby all of us from Nsanje to Chitipa and from Nkhota-kota to Mchinji would volunteer to clean Malawi”, he said.

On her part, Madame Getrude Mutharika who is also the patron urged all Malawians to partner with BEAM in improving hygiene in the country.

The Fundraising dinner of the BEAM trust managed to raise over MK55 million.