Malawi president takes 10% pay cut to help tackle virus

Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika and all government ministers will take a 10% pay cut for three months in order to raise money to fight the coronavirus outbreak. 

President Mutharika currently earns about $3,600 a month or $43,200 a year. 

He announced the cut on Friday as part of a stimulus package to help lessen the economic impact of coronavirus on Malawi’s economy. 

The package includes a series of tax breaks for businesses, a reduction in fuel prices and an increase in risk allowances for health workers. 

The country reported its first cases of the coronavirus on Thursday - one of the last countries in the world to do so. 

The President has declared a state of emergency in the country: no official lockdown is in place but schools are closed and government is urging Malawians to work from home and follow personal hygiene and social-distancing guidelines. 

All social gatherings of more than 100 people, including funerals, church services and political rallies have been banned. 

However, all markets for tobacco - Malawi’s main export - have been ordered to remain open in order to maintain foreign currency earnings and keep farmers in business. 

Malawi has confirmed four cases of coronavirus so far, all of which are linked to people traveling from the UK. 

Photo: BBC