Malawi civil service ‘cleanup’ task force on track, against further rot
The Public Service Systems Review Taskforce convened in Lilongwe on Friday to review progress of its work with a promise that is ready to produce a comprehensive recommendation report to President Chakwera with 90 days as mandated.
A statement issued after the meeting from 9 am to 7 pm, said the 14-member Civil Service Comprehensive Review Task Force, to be led by Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is also Minister responsible for Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, would also not hesitate to report and recommend to President Lazarus Chakwera if it discovers areas of grave concern along the way.
“In the meantime, the Taskforce has resolved that once, through the sub-committees, it encounters areas of grave concern-it will not hesitate to report and recommend to His Excellency Dr. LazarusMcCarthyChakwera, President of the Republic,in-order to prevent further rot and damage to the economy. The same will apply when the Taskforce envisages quick-wins and intermediate deliverables,” reads the statement signed by Chilima ‘s spokesperson Pilirani Phiri.
The statement said overall, the Taskforce is assuring the general public that it will deliver a comprehensive Recommendation Report to His Excellency the President within 90 days as mandated.
During Friday’s meeting the statement further said five sub-committees of the Taskforce namely Procurement, Allowances, Employment Contracts, Conditions of Service and Restructuring of the Public Service presented their fact-finding reports to the Chairperson of the Taskforce Vice President Chilima.
The statement said through the preliminary reports, the sub committees reported progress, updates and that they were on track in fulfilling their tasks within an internally agreed timeframe by the Taskforce.
The taskforce comprises different professionals such as academicians and lawyers.
Some of the members in the team are former secretary to Treasury Professor Ronald Mangani, professors Nyovani Madise, Ngeyi Kanyongolo, Wiseman Chijere Chirwa, Dr. Henry Chingaipe, private practice lawyer John Suzi Banda and former principal secretary in the Office of the Vice-President responsible for Public Sector Reforms Management Nwazi Mnthambala.
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I hope kutuluka reportyo with action
We can only hope something tangible will come out of the exercise. The alternative is to do nothing and continue mourning; a worse scenario I must say.
Abuse of allowances starts from Parliament and controlling officers in ministries. If the controller cannot control things what is the point of keeping them. These guys steal fuel allocated to them in cards. They get new mobile phones every six months. They buy government vehicles at almost no price. They make trips abroad to get dollars. They control procurement. They get commission from successful suppliers. That’s why the quality of roads is very bad in Malawi. Compare roads constructed under Kamuzu and those of the Bakili era which ended in June 2020. They are just thieves in simple language.
That’s why minister and top officials travel to Geneva for conference only to find everyone else is at home on video conferencing. These allowances muyaluka nawo.
Names are for the tombstones and titles are for glory. They don’t perform on their own. I doubt if any meaningful change will come out of this team. How many reforms has Chilima headed and which has succeeded? My advice to Chilima is; please slow down. The speed with which you got into politics will be the same speed you will leave it. Your popularity has shrunk.
Ma allowance adibwe mopanda chisoni
We believe when we see the clean-up implemented and the culprits prosecuted! And afterwards you get rid of your excess State Residences ( one or two are enough) and non performing Minister ( 20 or less is a good figure) plus your advisers ! This recovery and savings will give us the necessary funds to develop and create the promises you gave us, before we voted Tonse into power! In fact to do this clean-up was already part of your election promise and we are wondering why this was not happening straight after the 23 June 2020?
I wish these people fired themselves /resigned.
Za ziii
Chilima is wasting his precious time because Zangazanga will not implement his recommendations..zangazanga has completely destroyed the civil service and he is busy creating positions for himeboys and party cronies. Above all MCP has created criminal cartels in government to fulfill their criminal enterprise.
HOPEFULLY, THESE GUYS WILL TAKE A PRACTICAL APPROACH WITH PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS NOT ACADEMIC ONES