As the Malawi government seems to be keeping a tight lid on costs related to the Veep’s private trip to the United Kingdom. A document from the secretary to the Vice President to the Secretary to the Treasury has been leaked and is circulating on social media which shows the exact cost of the said private trip.
According to the memorandum, the primary purpose of the trip is for the Vice President Dr. Jane Ansa to attend and celebrate the 80th birthday of her husband, Bishop Dr. Joseph Addo Ansa in Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Furthermore, she is to be accompanied by a delegation comprising of the Secretary to the Vice President, Special Advisors, Heads of Administration, Protocol Officers, Accountants, Personal Assistants, Guard Commander, Aide-de-Camp and Security Personnel which amounts to a total of 19 members of the delegation.
It is said the secretary to the President and Cabinet has already approved that the members of the delegation be paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at double rates in recognition to the high cost of accommodation and living expenses in the United Kingdom.
According to the memorandum, the total cost of the trip is One billion nine hundred sixty two million six hundred eighty three thousand two hundred sixty six and thirty eight tambala (Mwk 1,962,683,226.36) which is roughly 2 Billion Malawi Kwacha and this forex is expected to be bought on a parallel market(Black Market) as commercial banks have limited forex.
The initial breakdown of the cost is as follows:
Air Ticket for the Vice President (first class)- Mwk 118,050,679.44, Business class tickets for 8 officials- Mwk 478,817,176.94, Premium Economy tickets for 7 officials- Mwk168,202,300.00, Daily Subsistence Allowance for Vice President – Mwk 105,300 000.00, 8 Government Officials allowance- Mwk 424 320 000.00, Other Officials allowance( Security Personell and assistants)- Mwk 278 460 000, Incidentals(Internal travel, car hire services, conference packages)- Mwk 408 765 000 and warm clothes allowance of Mwk 86 068 070.00