Malawi suspends all foreign trips by government officials

By Jeffrey Moyo

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has suspended all foreign trips by government officials that included himself and his cabinet ministers.

In a televised address on Wednesday night, Chakwera directed all ministers, who are currently outside the country, to return home.

He said the suspension will be in force for the rest of the budget year ending in March, as part of measures to shore up the Southern African nation’s economy.

“Any travel deemed absolutely necessary by anyone during that period must be submitted to my office for my personal authorization,” the president said.

Chakwera also announced a reduction by half of the fuel allocation to Cabinet ministers and senior government officials.

Malawi is currently battling an economic crisis that has led to fuel shortages, inflated food prices and a shortage of foreign exchange.

Plagued by the economic pressures, Malawi’s central bank last week announced that it was devaluing the local currency against the US dollar by nearly 30%.

This is the second time Malawi has devalued its currency.

The last was in May last year as the authorities battled to boost the falling foreign currency reserves actuated by rising commodity prices and declining revenue from tobacco exports.