Chilima to introduce retirement package for all

United Transformation Movement (UTM) leader Saulos Klaus Chilima has said he will introduce pension scheme for all Malawians aged 65 years and above once he becomes the country’s president.

Chilima said the expected scheme would cater for every person regardless of whether they were employed or not.

He spoke on Friday during whistle-stop meetings in Lilongwe that took him to Ngwangwa, Chidalanda, Kafutwe and Nambuma Trading Centers.

He said the introduction will follow reviewing of retirement age from 60 to 65 years in order to ensure that people fully contribute to the country’s development.

Said Chilima: “We need to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 years. We need to put everyone over 65 years of age on pension. There’s already money for that within government. We need to take care of all our elders.”

He said he knew where he would get money for the initiative as most of it was right within the country.

“Other countries such as Lesotho, Mexico, Botswana, South Africa are doing it but even if it was not being done in other countries we would still do it,” challenged Chilima.

During the meetings, the Vice-President also said he would do away with the Farm Input Subsidy Program (Fisp) and introduce universal subsidy program where strategic farm input products would be subsidized for all Malawians to access at an affordable price.

He also said his government would promote mechanized farming where cooperatives would access farm machinery such as tractors to be used at cooperative level.

During the meetings, Chilima gave an opportunity to the people to ask different questions.