President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has given civil servants two weeks holiday for this year’s festive season starting from December 22, 2016 and is due to end on January 2, 2017.

The development means civil servants will for duties on January 3.

This has been disclosed in a Press Statement released on Wednesday signed by Chief Secretary to the President Dr. George Mkondiwa.

Mkondiwa said the holiday does not apply to institutions that provide essential services such as hospitals, police, immigration and airports.

He said the “extended period of festivities” does not mean declaration of public holidays in Malawi.

Mkondiwa said d the President has granted the holiday “to allow civil servants ample time to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festive season with their families.”

Meanwhile government has declared December 27 on Tuesday as a public holiday since Christmas Day falls on Sunday and that the following Monday is another public holiday, Bozing Day.