Public Sector reforms to reach out to the citizenry – Official
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Office of the Vice President responsible for Public Sector Reforms Management Nwazi Mnthambala has said Government has mostly concentrated on the engagement of the supply and not on the demand side of communication since the Public Sector Reforms Agenda was launched in February 2015.
The PS made the remarks on Monday in Lilongwe, at the official opening of a two day orientation workshop on Public Sector Reforms Agenda at Capital Hotel for District Information Officers (DIO’s) and District Education Managers (DEM’s) from the central region.
“We have not, as yet, effectively reached out to the general public who are the rightful owners of these reforms. As Public servants, we recognize that we have a dual accountability. Thus we are accountable upwards to our Superiors and outwards to the general public, including the media,” said Mnthambala.
She said as change agents or as communicators who are entrusted to assist government to successfully implement the public sector reforms by communicating effectively and responsibly to the citizenry, DIO’s and DEM’s are required to understand and manage the external environment to excel and attain success on Public Sector Reforms Agenda.
“As a mouthpiece of Government within your duty stations, we reckon that your role and interface in spearheading the Reforms Agenda cannot be underestimated.
“This approach has significant implications on how Public Servants do their job because citizens look up to Government for their well being,” said Mnthambala adding that the reforms will in the end bring social transformation and behavior change in the public service.
She said Public Sector Reforms communications strategy aims to gain popular support for the reforms in collaboration with relevant ministries and development partners by coordinating different planned communication activities using different media platforms to ensure smooth delivery of this well thought reform agenda.
In his remarks the principal secretary in the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Civic Education, Justin Saidi said implementation of Reforms are important for socio economic development of the country.
He said it is crucial for the masses to know what reforms are and what government is doing on reforms. He said after 50 years of independence, the country needs to move on with new technology and development strategies.
Speaking in a separate interview one of the participants, DIO for Ntcheu George Bulombola said he was expecting to be informed on what reforms are and how reforms are going to be understood by the citizenry.
“Reforms affect the citizenry and this orientation will in the end assist us to provide a platform through which the citizenry will make their contributions,” said Bulombola.
Public Sector Reforms Agenda was launched by His Excellency the President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on 11th February, 201
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What about the issue of salary harmonisation? This was your lip service during your campaign period. Is it also on reform agenda? It is only this govt that has reached the lowest ego in its performance? All services are down to its knees because of stupid policies. Prices of goods are rising and you threaten civil servants if they want to strike over salary issues. APM salary is tax free and doesn’t feel the pinch.
One of the Ministries which was taken aboard the Reforms agenda was Ministry of Health . Today ambulances can’t move,laboratory and x ray services are suspended,one meal a day for patients and not to mention the perpetual shortage of drugs. Can we say that the Ministry has anything to show it is on Reform?
I work in the government, all I hear is the song being sang. Can somebody showcase for me one reform that has been implemented since the song was composed? Really, Malawi is a country of jokers and will keep on joking like that.
Rhetoric. I personally don’t think this thing can work especially with the current govt.