Former Vice President Khumbo Hastings Kachali has attacked the Tonse Alliance government of President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for approving a Mk312 million medical trip of Mary Chilima, a spouse to the Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima.
The budget for the trip comprises accommodation, air travel fares, external travel allowances, vehicle hiring expenses, local security costs and food rations for Mary Chilima and four support staff.
The allocation has since raised angry reactions and questions in the public domain as Chilima is already entitled to public funded medical help.
Writing on his official facebook page Kachali questioned the whole process, saying Chilima’s wife is not entitled to the said medical trip.
“Fellow Patriotic Malawians, the law is the law. If we do not like it then the only remedy is that we should change it otherwise if we break it, we will be guilty of an offence.
“The law is very clear in that it says the Vice President is entitled to free medical services at government expense. His or her spouse is not. The spouse is entitled to a medical insurance ONLY,” said Kachali.
He added: “It is wrong for government to spend vast amounts of money to send a spouse of the Vice President abroad for medical attention as it is the duty of the medical insurance company to cover the cost of sending the spouse abroad. This provision also includes children of the Vice President who are below eighteen years old.
“It is important to take note that the APPROVAL of the document circulating is dated 19th September, 2022. His Excellency the President, Dr. Chakwera, could not have approved it as he is outside the country. The one who APPROVED it is the one who is in charge now. Your guess is as good as mine.”
Meanwhile, the office of the Vice President has confirmed of the trip.
