Chilima report wants Ministers not to be MPs: recommends Civil Servants to take home K300, 000
“Govement must move to full migration to e-Payments to ensure it the doesn’t lose funds.”
“Some recommendations are strange, misplaced and out of scope.”
Minute details of the much touted Saulos Chilima report on quick overhaul of public service systems, which was submitted to president mid last week and was kept close to the chest, have emerged with a scathing recommendation that MPs must not be appointed as cabinet ministers.
President Lazarus Chakwera tasked his vice, Saulos Chillma to prepare a report on how best to fix the broken civil service system, which among other things is a breeding ground for corruption, abuse of office and theft of public resources.
The much-awaited overhyped report, which Nyasa Times has seen, recommends, among other things, a K300,000 minimum salary for civil servants and a reduction of the retirement age to allow young people to have opportunities to get jobs in government.
The Chilima closely-guarded report is propagating for an establishment of an independent commission, which will be tasked to interview all candidates and restructuring of the Civil Service Commission.
Chilima and his high-powered taskforce comprising of; Ronald Mangani, Professor Nyovasi Madise, Dr Aubrey Mvula, Dr Henry Chingaipe, Dr Steven Matenje, Waki Mushani, John Suzi-Banda, Reverend Elsie Tembo, Tione Chilambe, Zunzo Mitole, Nwazi Nthambala and Jane Kambalame recommends a performance-based monitoring of civil servants and that each one of them must undergo an appraisal every three months and be fired if they fail.
The taskforce in the report also advocates for the commercialization of some state lodges such as the magnificent Chikoko Bay in the lakeshore district of Mangochi and Zomba State Lodge and turn them into hotels to create jobs and boost local businesses and tourism.
The report, which was submitted to President Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace in a closed-door ceremony is pushing for the privatisation of the Road Traffic Directorate (RTD) and the deployment of undercover spies to track and prosecute corruption.
Perhaps, the strangest recommendation in the Chilima report is the suggestion to repurpose former president Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s Kasungu private property, Ngulu ya Nawambe residence into a specialist hospital treating cancer, kidney issues and others, and building staff houses for medics within the compound.
Furthermore, the Chilima taskforce recommends a house purchase scheme for civil servants but also push for the advertisement of key positions like principal secretary etc and cessation of political appointments.
Chilima and his team wants President Chakwera to consider merging some ministries and having principal secretaries to deputise a minister when the minister is not available instead of having deputy ministers while at the same time introduce a national pension scheme authority and a Civil Service Medical Scheme authority.
The taskforce commends to the president for the country to have Monthly audit of government departments and that civil servants must declare assets every six months as a way of curbing corruption.
The Chilima report is further pushing for an increase of funding to the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) by 400 percent to ensure corruption cases are speedily prosecuted.
Also, the taskforce, suggests that the graft busting body work is with stakeholders to remove the need for the ACB to seek consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions when prosecuting cases.
Reads in part the report: “Govement must move to full migration to e-Payments to ensure the government does not lose funds to individuals.”
The Chilima taskforce highly recommends to president Chakwera to consider a total overhaul of Central Medical Stores Trust.
Chilima and his team are also rooting for the commercialisation of the Malawi prison service so that they can use the various skills the prisoners possess, such as engineering and many others to raise funds through construction and other projects.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), soon after the taskforce to the president called for government to release the report.
“The public sector reform is long overdue and Malawians have always believed it to be one of the areas that needed an overhaul in a bid to transform the civil service in terms of performance, maladministration and curbing corruption,” said the group in a statement.
In the statement signed by chairperson Gift Trapence and national coordinator Luke Tembo, HRDC added that the report should be made public to allow every citizen to follow and understand the reform process.
“Our call for accountability and transparency is based on the fact that only when these outcomes and recommendations are made public will Malawians be able to fully adopt and embrace them,” added the statement.
State House press secretary Brian Banda Monday during a State House Press Briefing said the President will review the contents of the report and announce his decisions to the public going forward with the recommendations.
Banda said: “As you recall, the President called for the report to address the issues in government. The report has been handed to him, he will now take time to study and decide the way forward, including a decision on whether to make the contents public or not.”
Added Banda: “The president cannot be announcing all recommendations in public. He only communicates to the public what he considers will be implemented.
The report have made several recommendations to the President built on recommendations of the public reform sector review programme, which has been ongoing for a number of years.
President Chakwera ordered the formation of the task force in his February speech following revelations of abuse of Covid-19 funds, saying there was a need for the country to tackle the overarching problems of wastage and corruption in the public service.
In an interview Blantyre based business man Joel Gonthako said: “The report is not what we expected. It is rhetoric and nothing of those recommendations will not work in practice.
” Telling MPs not to double as MPs is a war no politician will win no matter the good intention they might have but the truth is the MPs will resist it to the core.”
A Lilongwe public worker, Bernard Zaulombo, who lives Area 51 but works in Kanengo, said: “So, now the government wants to do a property grabbing on Kamuzu Banda’s Kasungu private residence?
Is that House not willed to Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira or something like that, so how will government convert someone’s private property into a public facility? Sounds too micky mouse to me.
Lydia Mwangupiri, a social media commentator based at Karonga Boma, said: “What grade in civil service will be getting K300, 000 minimum, they need to know that time of promising people the moon and the sun is over. Malawians are difficult people and if taken for a ride, they can ungovernable.”
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Tell me one country in the world where there are no political appointments? What exactly does Chilima want? To bring Chakwera down in a short period of time? Chilima does not have many MPs in parliament as such to make sure he gets a good share of cabinet positions he wants those who are MPs not to be cabinet ministers, sure? Why don’t we say only MPs should be cabinet ministers as the case is with the UK? DR Chakwera samalani naye uyu wama reforms. You don’t send a thief to head reforms to do with theft matters.
A complete wastage of time …..A chilima paja mumango pulomisa zilizonse.. the Atcheya style of politics…nde mwati MK300,000 poyambira salary..kenaka mwati mulimbane ndi chuma cha kamuzu…..nde zikugwilizana bwanji ndi Allowance and procurement yomwe munatumidwa kuti muunikire ija..
Your recommendations seem to contain lots of hiden agenda….mwatitayitsa nthawi..
The recommendations came from the public; the taskforce only reviewed what the public suggested and compiled that into a report. That the public was to send reports was being even advertised on radio. So this is not actually coming from their Excellencies Chilima and Chakwera.
This report is not a cast on the stone such that Chakwera should be at liberty to go through it and see if some of those recommendations are sustainable.
The issue regarding an MP not becoming a Cabinet Minister was discussed during UDF government. The reason at the time was that Cabinet Ministers who were also MPs were nowhere to be found when required; they failed to serve their constituencies. This was resolved and I wonder if it is relevant in the same now?
The issue regarding the minimum wage to be a K300k is just a wish in this straggling economy in which borrowing is the order of the day. The taxman has a shortfall and there is no culture of paying tax because many citizens do not really see the reason to pay tax. Why should they pay when every time they go to hospitals, they are told to buy drugs and are I’ll treated? Why should they pay if those to enjoy are government employees? Very unfortunate.
The Judiciary will increase its employment compliment by over 80 %; where would they get the budget for this? Unless each Department should be made a revenue making center just like the proposal for prisons. The issue regarding reducing retirement age lacks justification in a country where people have to work for over 30 years to reach a break even to start accumulating funds for retirement. On the point of performance evaluation at work and fire those who don’t perform is unfair labour practice. I hope you had an Industrial Psychologist in your team to advise you accordingly. The environment at work, training and training at work, availability of resources: vehicles, computer software, funding etc all contribute to the performance of employees. In the absence of these, firing people will be deemed unfair. More to write but I rest my case for now.
i can see these guys failed to do their jobs and lack expertise in certain fields. The issue first is of allowances, procurement and condition of service. Now all these needs to have critical success factors and their key performance indicators. Accountants are in position to know controls to be put on allowances like monthly report per ministry and justification reports for allowances. The ODPP are in position to know the procurement flaws and can put controls like pre determined prices of goods etc, The audit and pre audit of contracts etc. The human resources could tell us about the conditions of service etc. Motivational factors, Nut mere K300,000 minimal wage and age reduction to accomodate youth. This also shows government failure. How can you reduce the retirement age yet you want to create job? The other issues are irrelevant. For example monthly audit. How many auditors do you have. How much do you fund them/ ACB to increase funding by 4005. How relevant to the three headings of allowances, procurement and condition of services?
This a failed report. Immagine the minimum civil servant salary to be 300 pin. Chilima are u serious. That in Malawi. And, did the report try to address the issues that the president was concerned of which led to massive plunder of 6.2b Kwacha. The president concern was on allowances and procurement. How has Chilima’s committee dealt with these TORs. How will Nguluyanawambe, Chikoko Bay, Zomba State Lodge solve the issues of corruption in the civil service.
Uku ndiye kuganina kopanda nzeru . Kuganiza kumbwambwana uku. Njoka kulowa bwenje lokumba mbewa. Mangani yanu aChilima mupange chipatala osati private house. Mangani mwamakono chipatala. Chipatal chimankhala ndi mamangidwe ake. Kapena munena kuti mudzipanga rent mukuchita kuneneratu ku private house opand nzeru ndi manyazi. Muikedi pa public.
Chilima is simply decampaining the Tonse Government. He knows the recommendations are unattainable . Come 2025 when he breaks away from Tonse Alliance he will going round telling Malawians kuti it’s not him who failed Malawians but Chakwera. . He will therefore be kneeling down to beg your vote a Malawi kuti iye asintha zinthu akakhala pa mpando. Lero he as Vp I see failing to implement the reduced passport, free water and power connections. Ife magradute until today ma degree awa akumera nguwi mnyumba. Mr Chilima, where will you get Money to give the least paid 400$( 300,00kwacha) in one month ? Kodi economics you studied ku Chanco kuja sanakuuzeni za inflation? Where in a democracy can you say audit izichitika monthly? Appraisals every three months ? Where ? This tasks team has just wasted our resources. As someone mentioned by the ToR’s were clear to you Koma inu you went kumakanyangana zina zomwe bwana chakwera sanakuuzeni. In short all your recommendations are rubbish to say The least . A wrong team was assembled do that did not have experience in institutional reforms . Pay back the allowances you have eaten. Chakwera ignore this report. Afuna akugwetse mnyamatayu paja ndilo khalidwe lake
the report is not answering anything to do with bringing efficiency in civil service including issue of allowances.
Angodya ma allowance aulere sure. This is purely political posturing and no work done. What they have recommended to the president, if what is reported here is anything to go by, is nothing but trash. I thought they will give the president tangible and deliverable solutions to corruption, fraud and organized crime!
In Kenya, cabinet ministers do not double as MPs and it works well. Drawing salary plus allowances as minister and MP is wastage of public money especially in a small economy such as Malawi’s.
I totally agree with the report as per Nyasa Times version. On Nguluyanawambe residence i am sure the task force already consulted on the ownership.Why keep a structure like this one idle for ages? The life of a structure depends on use and aeration as the occupants sort out short falls. If it really belong to Kamuzu family let government buy as the intended use is very very important. Why keep it as a white elephant as if it is a grave?
It doesn’t belong to Kamuzu family. It is Government of Malawi’s property.
My 2 cents whatever the recommendations I’d say LMC must do what’s best for Malawians SIMPLE not politics.Politicians are greedy..the task force looked at this from an expertise point of view and an angle that is best for the country…..let’s not minimise their efforts because it doesnot conform to our political view…
Change is hard and change is painful especially dziko lokuti zinthu zinalekeleledwa..
I’d rather the current administration focuses of having a good run .. leaving behind a good legacy rather than waste time trying to appease a few families in the ‘Tonse are liars’ faction and remain in power
Tidzakuchotsani nafe pitilizani mukupangazi
I’m struggling to grasp how declaring assets every six months is necessary if the reforms are implemented correctly. There’s other branches who monitor sinister money transactions and corruption.
Otherwise most recommendations stated above are solid and within reach.
I specifically like the idea of utilising the palace of Kamuzu in Kasungu however a state of the art museum dedicated to him would be more appropriate.
mzeru… most politicians are not technocrats… they meddle in goverment affairs with their political view… I support the idea by the VP
Kokera kwako, paja mine ma MP!!
Zina zabwino Zina ayi, no need for deputy minister, don’t just reduce retirement age, remove limits on Pension (Nyumba sitimangira Pension masiku ano), how would a 40yr old retire to start building a House? Za House Scheme ndi campaign yanu tiludziwa!
Zinazo ndizabwino.
What a brilliant comment, I support you sir. Dekhani
MP wapa nyasaland mumuwuze kuti asamakhale minister hahaha mufuna reform itheke koma, dyera lili ndi anthu amenewa
How many MPs are ministers? The majority of MPs are not!
Actually this system works very well in countries such as Kenya. Every minister there is a technocrat, not politicians
THIS APPEARS TIME WASTED. NONE OF THE SO CALLED RECOMMENDATIONS WILL IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
NOTHING SAID IN THE REPORT IS NEW. WE DIDNT NEED A WHOLE COMMITTEE TO TELL US THIS RUBBISH
Minimum 300 pin??? Bodza ili
Proposal idayambapo ya khala bodzanso? Kuganiza kwa bwanji uku?
What were the terms of reference? What have allowances got to do with ministers? What has procurement issues got to do with ACB funding? This is just another waste of tax payers money.
Yeah time to move malawi forward is now. If we dont do now 4get. Why employing already employed MP to double as cabinet minister while we got millions qualified and capable people in malawi
Allowances? Gone?
Gaffament is a serious bisimesi!!!
The much awaited report’s recommendation prove that the report has been drawn up by people who have no experience of how a government functions in a functioning democracy or how a civil service is structured and why it is structured in that manner. SKC has failed. In the first place reforming a civil service or how government functions needs expertise and experience which SKC does not have. And second such reports require more than a group of individuals led by a overtly ambitious politician like SKC. It requires non partisan expertise and consultation with opposition parties and senior civil servants. SKC sadly once again proves that he is no leader.
I think you’re right. Maybe there are some nitty grities in the report regarding allowances, employment contracts and procurement for which the commission was mandated to look at. Or else the membership of the commission must accept that equating operations of a Ltd liability company to those of pro-social service/goods delivery but with a focus on commercialization (new public administration) are two different issues. You cannot not just take any other person to prescribe the running of the public administration without experience and the requisite know how. Chilima has failed. Did you handle how filling of public posts should be revamped? Or determination of terms and conditions of service for the presidency, for example?
Drawn up by people who have no experience, my foot! What kind of experience are you talking about Bitwell Kowani? The same experience you’re talking about in civil service has betrayed Malawians and robbed them of their resources through dubious allowances and crookedly drafted contracts. The country has suffered enough at the hands of crooks since the inception of multiparty politics. Matter of fact, this idea of giving contracts to some civil servants is not only stupid but also to hold government at ransom in the event of underperformance by those on contracts. Malawi needs to catch up with the pace of development happening elsewhere in different regions of Africa and that can only happen after overhauling the whole government system-it is only crooks who fear change for theirs is personal interest and not national interest.
Tonse government always believing in building castles in the air .Our economy is slowly becoming a Zimbabwe type of Economy ,where will a struggling government get 300 pin and pay civil servant who are many in this country.Memories are still fresh about your Kampeni lies ,its now close to a year,how many people have been employed ? .Its now close to a year how many elderly people in rural Malawi have received 15 pin per month .Its now close to a year since you took over power through a kangaroo court ,how many people have accessed 14 pin passport ? ….the list is endless .So Mr Chilima and crew when you are making another set of promises you need to know how you will balance revenue and expenditure .Malawians are crying day in day out because of poor management of the economy ,there is nothing that the government is doing to stop skyroketting of prices of basic neccessities .Yet you want to bring in another set of lies and promises .How will people believe you ?
Chilima is clever, he is recommending things that are impossible so that Chakwera will look like a fool. Remember that Chilima is still UTM not MCP. Ndale izi.