Government austerity measures are facing early scrutiny after Second Vice‑President Enock Chihana embarked on an intensive travel schedule, prompting critics to question whether the administration is applying spending cuts evenly.
But government has defended the Second-Vice President’s sojourns, claiming he is using personal resources in most of them.
Chihana, who was appointed by President Peter Mutharika in October, has been crisscrossing the country meeting vendors, traditional and religious leaders on top of thanksgiving rallies that he has been conducting.
Our analysis show that Chihana has made over 15 trips to the Central and Northern regions and more recently in the Southern region.
The Second Vice-President for example has been to Kasungu, Mzuzu, Rumphi, Chitipa, Nkhata Bay, Karonga and last week he was in Chikwawa for a “Thank You Rally” along with his alliance partner, the Democratic Progressive Party DPP.
The continuous travels by Chihana are not going unnoticed as some human rights and social commentators have questioned the double
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Micheal Kaiyatsa said the frequent travels by Chihana are troubling especially at a time when the same government is complaining about bad shape in which the economy is.
“The Second Vice-President’s relentless travel schedule is deeply troubling and raises serious questions about government’s commitment to the austerity measures.
At a time when Malawians are being asked to tighten their belts, senior leadership should be setting the highest standard of restraint, not operating in ways that signal business as usual. The Vice-President’s more than 10 nationwide trips in such a short period risk sending a clear message that austerity is being selectively applied” said Kaiyatsa.
Social commentator Moses Mkandawire said there is a thin line between distinguishing extravagance and sourcing the views of Malawi.
Mkandawire said much as the presidency in which Chihana occupies needs to be close to people, there is need for caution.
“It’s the question of balancing up what activities is the office of the presidency should be involved. We are in economic situation which cannot accommodate reckless travel. If they don’t travel Malawians will complain but if they over travel, they will end up using resources which could have been channelled to other equally important areas” said Mkandawire.
Political commentator George Phiri in an interview yesterday said the austerity measures that government spelled out should also be extended to the office of Second Vice President.
Phiri said considering that Chihana draws from public coffers, there is need to limit to his travels otherwise the austerity being preached by government will be meaningless.
“We know that the President is not a frequent traveller. Even from his first term. So, likely the two vice-presidents will be delegated to do his duties. But then there must be a limit to that otherwise public resources will be wasted through this office,” said Phiri.
But in an interview, Minister of Information and Digitalisation who is also Government spokesperson Shadric Namalomba has justified Chihana’s travels.
Namalomba said Chihana uses his own resources in the most of the trips under the spotlight.
He said the second vice president’s travels are also austerity measures as he spends little when he travels than the President travelling
“If you check the travels that
you are talking about, you will see that they are travels that were supposed to be undertaken by the President. Instead, the second Vice President undertook those trips.
“For example, Gonapamuhanya cultural festival in the previous administration was undertaken by President but this time around it was undertaken by honourable Chihana. When the president makes a local travel, about K100 million is used in logistics. But when the vice presidency is delegated, less than K10 million is used. This I think is an austerity measure,” said Namalomba.
The government spokesperson added that Malawians should expect to see the Vice-President and Second Vice-president being delegated often.
He said that way, government will save resources.
Last month, government announced a number of austerity measures that included reduction of fuel entitlements for Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and senior public officers cut by 30 percent
Foreign travels were also restricted, with all trips requiring presidential approval through the Chief Secretary as delegation sizes will be capped while donor-funded travel will not receive any government top-up allowances.
Further government has also ordered MDAs to shift meetings and workshops to office premises or use virtual platforms to reduce travel- related costs.
