Malawi opposition urges govt to give teachers risk allowances

Leader of opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa who is also Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Vice President, has asked the government to provide teachers with risk allowances.

(African Stand) — The leader of the opposition in Malawi asked President Lazarus Chakwera to prioritise COVID 19 risk allowance for educators as schools reopened on 7 September 2020.

Leader of opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa who is also Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Vice President, has asked the government to provide teachers with risk allowances.

Nankhumwa said this when he was responding to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera on Friday last week. “I wish to stand with all teachers in Malawi in regard to the issue of risk allowances as schools open today amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“Prison warders and health personnel who are at risk of contracting Coronavirus are being given COVID-19 risk allowances,” said Nankhumwa.

He added: “Why should our teachers be denied the same? I had expected the President to adequately address this matter in his SONA but he deliberately chose not to address the plight of teachers, which is extremely unfortunate.”

Concerned teachers last week threaten to start a national wide strike from Monday 7th September 2020 if the government will not bow down to their demands.

Schools reopened on Monday 7th September 2020, without reports of teachers strike though the government is yet to honour the demands by teachers.

Malawi has so far recorded 5630 cases of COVID-19 pandemic with 176 deaths.