By Suleman Chitera
#A fresh wave of public debate has emerged over government spending on presidential travel, with citizens urging authorities to cut down on what they describe as unnecessary allowances and expenses linked to the President’s entourage.
The concern centres on the numerous benefits and resources allocated to the President, First Lady, security personnel, drivers, and senior officials who accompany the Head of State on both local and international engagements. According to the calls, government should consider scrapping a wide range of perks, including allowances, fuel provisions, hotel bookings, and the hiring of aircraft for large delegations.
Among the key proposals is the demand for eliminating all allowances for the President and First Lady during official travels. Citizens further argue that the entire security detail and drivers in the presidential motorcade should also no longer receive additional allowances, as these duties already fall under their normal job descriptions.
In addition, the public is calling for a stop to fuelling all vehicles in long motorcades, which they say puts pressure on an already strained national budget. They also want an end to hiring expensive aircraft for the President and his entourage, as well as discontinuing payments for hotel and lodge accommodation for all accompanying officials—expenses they believe can be avoided.
Instead, those pushing for reforms suggest that the President should delegate a single Cabinet Minister to represent him at events that do not necessarily require his personal presence. They argue that reducing the size of delegations will help cut costs significantly and promote fiscal discipline.
Analysts note that these calls reflect a growing demand for responsible public spending, especially at a time when the country is grappling with economic challenges. Others have stressed that positive actions taken by government should be acknowledged, arguing that criticism should not be made merely for political point-scoring.
As public pressure mounts, many Malawians hope authorities will consider these proposals as part of a broader effort to rebuild trust, reduce wasteful expenditure, and channel resources toward essential services that directly benefit citizens.
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