By Joseph Dumbula
Malawi President Professor Peter Mutharika has directed all cabinet ministers and deputy ministers to limit their local travel to a maximum of one trip per month, as part of renewed efforts to enforce fiscal discipline.
A formal communication from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), signed by Chief Secretary Dr. Justin Saidi, reveals that the President is concerned about the recent surge in domestic travel by government officials.
According to the OPC’s Director of Communication, Focus Maganga, the government is operating under a strict austerity budget due to constrained financial resources. He noted that the rising frequency of internal travel runs counter to cost-cutting measures introduced to stabilize public finances.
“These trips consume significant resources, particularly in allowances and fuel,” Maganga said, underscoring the financial strain on government expenditure.
The directive further states that any additional travel beyond the permitted single monthly trip will require prior authorization from the President.
The move signals a tightening of public spending controls as Malawi navigates economic pressures and budgetary constraints.
