Malawi President, Peter Mutharika and all government ministers are reportedly taking a 10 percent salary cut in an endeavour to raise money to fight coronavirus.
The stimulus package that was announced on Saturday notes that there shall be a series of tax breaks for businesses, a reduction in fuel prices, an increase in risk allowances for health workers and the recruitment of extra 2000 health caregivers.
This comes after Malawi on Thursday recorded its first cases of the novel coronavirus and the country immediately declared a state of emergency.
Reuters reports that Mutharika earns about $3,600 (£3,000) a month and the salary cut will be for three months.
Following the recording of the first cases, Mutharika ordered tobacco markets to be opened and allowed to operate without disruption to protect small farmers and bolster foreign currency receipts.
Tobacco is Malawi’s chief foreign currency earner. Malawi is one of the world’s poor countries
More: Reuters