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Government has directed that public officials on government-funded business should with immediate effect travel by Air Malawi on routes it operates.
The decision — which affects ministers, deputy ministers, members of parliament, members of judiciary, civil servants and employees of parastatal bodies and local assemblies — has been taken to give business to the airline.
A September 1, 2003 circular signed by S.H. Ng’oma on behalf of the comptroller of Statutory Corporations and leaked to Nation Online, says Cabinet made the directive recently.
Under reference number C1/01/33, the circular also says that Cabinet has directed that whoever chooses not to travel by Air Malawi on routes it operates must give an explanation in writing.
“Public officials should indicate in a memorandum reasons for not traveling by Air Malawi if they choose other airlines on the schedules flights,” said Ng’oma in the circular.
Air Malawi Chief Executive Francis Pelekamoyo said it would be difficult to state how the directive would translate to Air Malawi in terms of business.
“It is a good thing, but it all depends on the government budget in terms of how often the said public officials will be allowed to travel,” said Perekamoyo.
He described the move as a “small bonus” to the airline, saying travel by public officials just contributes about a third to the airlines total revenue.
“Actually that is not a focus of our business,” said Pelekamoyo who has turned down an offer for a second term at the company. “We target the travelling public and the private sector.”
One senior government official at the Ministry of Finance who did not want to be named said that directive was not in line with the doctrine of liberalisation, saying Air Malawi must not be protected, but should be left alone to compete.
But an official at Air Malawi did not want to be named said there will be resistance from some public officials because they have been taking advantage of the frequent flyer programme on other airlines that ply on long routes.
“Under the frequent flyer programme, a passenger accumulates miles and when he or she reaches a certain threshold he or she gets a free ticket or accommodation. Now some public officials have been using this facility for their own personal gain, yet the miles have been accumulated on a government funded trip,” said the official.
He said the Air Malawi also offers the facility but is limited to the routes in the region which it operates.
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