Malawi govt orders ambassadors to hire 5 local staff: Recalling diplomats
Government says it has instructed Malawi High Commissioners and Ambassadors to have five local staff in Malawi missions abroad as cost cutting measure.
Foreign Affairs minister Francis Katsaira said the government will also trim Malawi staff for each mission to five or six.
“What we are doing now is that we are recalling all our diplomats whose three year term of office has expired. We want to ensure each mission has 10 members of staff as a cost cutting measure as the country faces dwindling resource envelope,” he said.
His comments come at a time when Malawians are expressing worry that the Democratic Progressive Party elite and President Peter Mutharika’s innercircle continue to send their spouses, siblings, relatives and friends in Malawi missions abroad.
But Katsaira said the government will ensure that the number of envoys are reduced from around 400 to less than 80.
Mr Moderator,
I have noted with absolute disgust that someone is using my name and placing posts which use uncouth language. I would urge you to ensure that posts of such nature do not get placed on your online paper especially when they are using cheap derogatory language. I am a devout Christian and would not in any way use such foul language. Please ensure that you remove any message carrying a semblance of my name as continuing would force me to seek regal redress, a situation I would wish to avoid. Thank you
“Regal” or Legal ????
One of the reasons we will never progress unless we change!
Patronage system where embassies are staffed by ruling party stalwarts or the “ruling” tribe!
In developed countries they have career diplomats, well versed in foreign policy whose tour of duty has a contract with the government. there is no change of ambassadors just because there has been a change in a ruling party or President.
After all embassies represent all Malawians and all Malawians deserve a chance to represent Malawi ON MERIT regardless of tribe or party affiliation.
We shall get there slowly
https://obetha.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/malawis-external-bleeding-diplomatic-service/
No need at all—we apply passports it takes 1 year for them to make follow ups on behalf of malawi ctizens what do they do?
Malawi sazatheka. (1) Ten members of staff for what? What exactly do they do there? The maximum number should be 5 including locals and the minimum should be 2. (2) A poor country like Malawi has resident embassy offices all over the world yet rich countries like Australia have very few embassy offices globally. Australian embassy in South Africa covers for all southern African countries including Malawi and Zambia. Why should we have resident embassy offices in Kenya while we have another one in Ethiopia; in Zimbambwe while we have another one in Zambia? We don’t need a resident embassy… Read more »
By the way, do we need a resident embassy office in Japan? I mean if we do cost-benefit analysis, do the benefits outweigh the costs in favor of Malawi? We need to wake up from our slumber. We should drop off all dollar drainers.
Good move! We dont need many in the embassies. To do what than gossiping and stealing? Many are there just to take inventory which a local staff can do. Adzibwera
Little boy kasaila. N-Y-I-N-I zanu anthu atsakho inu.
Reality is they want the Lhomwez to be in embassies so that they manipulate issues easily.
Dr. Mbilizi, ndiye wapindulanji ndikutukwanako? If you don’t have anything to share on this platform, why do you just keep your mouth shut…….shame on you so called Dr.
@Alfred….don’t respond to people with chicken-like brains. They don’t deserve your responses and time.
I am a law abiding citizen and have nothing but admiration for the policies which this government is implementing. The person in this post is using a pseudo name which resembles mine and I find this unfortunate. I do not make comments on any issues in any of the online publications.