By Peter Phiri:
Treasury and Office of the President and Cabinet has approved K311 million kwacha to cover external medical expenses for Vice president’s wife Mary Chilima in South Africa.
According to a memo we have seen, file referenced CAB/36/11 from OPC dated 19 September, 2022 addressing President Lazarus Chakwera indicates that the Vice president requested an initial 311,98 million kwacha to cover a medical trip among others, accommodation and external travel expenses .
“I would like to inform Your Excellency’s that following an instruction from your Excellency’s instruction, my office engaged the Secretary to the Treasury and reviewed an initial budget of for the medical trip amounting to three Hundred and Eleven Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand kwacha which the office of the Vice president had earlier submitted,” reads part of the later.
The memo, further indicates that The proposed and approved budget comprised of expenses for accommodation, air travel fares, External Travel Allowances, Vehicle hiring charges, local security costs and Food rations for supporting staff.
Director of Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Pilirani Phiri told the media that; “I can confirm that Mrs. Mary Chilima is in need of medical attention in South Africa. But we will not be drawn into explaining the details of her illness and ancillary costs”.
