Political analysts have described Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera’s frequent travels as unnecessary and costly for a nation that is already struggling economically.
Of late Chakwera has been seen travelling frequently both in and outside the country, as since his 19-day trip oversees in countries including Kenya, Dubai and Scotland-back he has been seen presiding over various function almost on a daily basis.
In an interview with MIJ Online, one of the political analysts in the country George Phiri-of the University of Livingstonia-said some of Chakwera’s travels are unnecessary and costly.
He has since advised Chakwera to walk the talk in excising prudence, saying presidential entourage is draining the nation’s coffers.
Following his return from Scotland, the next Chakwera attended a golf tournament before attending an economist’s summit, the agricultural fair in Blantyre, a trip to South Africa and the opening of a solar plant in Salima.
However, Minister of Information Gospel Kazako says president Dr Lazarus Chakwera is not just wasting tax payer’s money by having several travels at the expense of lack of drugs in hospitals among other challenges.
“People are supposed to ask and know properly what is going on, what I can say is that most of the times as the president is traveling either by going outside let us not think that he is going to waste tax payer’s money and if he is just staying without traveling, let us not think that he is saving money. I want you to look at these things properly and as we are doing these let us see which direction it is taking us to,” Kazako explained at a media briefing on 16th November 2021 in Lilongwe.