Malawi civil service ‘cleanup’ team goes to ‘war’ against looting public funds
The Public Service Systems Review Taskforce which government announced last week Friday has rolled into action and held its first meeting in Lilongwe on Thursday to roll out its work to comprehensively review systems of allowances, procurement and employment contracts which have over the years been conduits of looting public funds.
The meeting – chaired by Vice President Saulos Chilima – marked “the first day of the 90-day assignment” as mandated by President Lazarus Chakwera according to a statement released on Thursday night.
The statement signed by Chilima’s spokesperson Pilirani Phiri indicated that after realising the urgency of the task at hand, the Taskforce members have agreed and committed to deliver a comprehensive recommendation report within the stipulated 90 days.
“But (the Taskforce) will be reporting progress and making recommendations on quick-wins e.g. Procurement. Thus, four sub-committees have been formed to tackle specific tasks: (i) Procurement (ii) Allowances (iii) Employment Contracts (iv) Conditions of Service,” it said.
In carrying out the work, it is expected that the Taskforce will be engaging different stakeholder groups depending on the specific task at hand as well as regularly engaging and updating both the media and the public.
“To this effect, special email addresses will be created and communicated where the public could deposit their input on the task at hand,” it further said.
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Taskforce members have further agreed that they will largely be holding meetings virtually save for situations where physical meetings are inevitable, according to the statement.
The 14-member Public Service Systems Review Taskforce, led by Vice-President Chilima, who is also Minister responsible for Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, 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.
Political and social commentator Humphreys Mvula also said the team brings hopes that it will deliver the demands because so far the Vice-President has been seen to be an “action-oriented person”.
President Chakwera mandated Vice President Chilima to form and lead the taskforce on February 14 amidst a public outcry over the embezzlement of the K6.2 Billion meant for Covid 19 but was largely used for allowances for government officials.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Why are people paid allowances in the first place??? Even in the private sector people get allowances. So let’s not rush….. Let’s understand the situations first. We know the system is being abused but let’s not be naive to think government employees can operate without the allowances.
Allowances must be abolished. Salaries have to absorb all the allowances. Employees must have their jobs and where traveling is necessary the office must provide the necessary resources for accommodation, meals and transport. No money apart from salary should be accessed by employees on duty outsude their work station. Where other miscllenious expenses are required , the office shall provide a cash float that h been dully approved by controlling officers and can be audited monthly and verified. This should not exceed K100000 otherwise such services can be paid by the office using normal paument procedures.
Nsanje
Use the same people who have the experience on government affairs to correct the mistakes.Mukachita mopupuluma mufika pena njiii kusowa poyambira.Chibaba chomanganacho chidzakubwererani.
My first reaction is that this nosensenod hiring people likebNtumudzi and Bendulo to senior positions from outside the civil service should stop. These are the people who come to destroy the civil service. All positions should be completed and we dint want criminals like Ntumodzi, Bendulo kalumbu, Brian Banda and Kapondangaga in the civil service.
Much as I want these thievery caught. But more task forces won’t help. And I see failure by the Gvt. Desperation, lack of influence and leadership. Failing to lead the already existing crime busting urgencies. Osangopanga hire independent forensic auditors bwa?
Auditors general akutani mu office?
Public procurement committee ikutani
Police ili kuti?
Parliament ikutani?
Ministry of finance?
Together with the VPs office
ACB?
Juniciary?
Human rights groups?
If all those were lead and engaged and if somebody would lead them to a place of integrity they would have delivered. Or else more task forces who gets more allowances these guns are not doing this for free
They will keep stealing and stealing and you can’t catch them.
Are there highly qualified auditors and accountants in this group. Not talking Kkkkkk about managers but maybe forensic auditors? Are there enough independent professionals because more gvt officials means this will be another rocking chair and gets us no where. Also can this be the last task force nonsense? Because ACB is meant to have all professionals to handle matters of such urgency. And I wonder why gvt is paying ACB if it can’t trust them. How about Mr President remodel ACB to deliver as an independent crime investigation bureau??? I mean we need as a nation to invest in making that urgency independent, equipped, and proffessional to act in all maters. So issue are not in need of extra cost of task force, review how the exist insurgencies are operating stop enriching no deserving opportunist with task force task force.
What public procurement committee for?
What is ACB for?
What is judiciary for
What is parliament?
They are polluted, I agree! But they can be baptized if there was determination to do so.
How many task forces? Send ina ku traffic amalawi akubeledwa, ina ku police anthu akuzunzidwa, ina ku immigration mukaone chinyengo chenicheni, and the other notable if not all gvt urgencies rooting public funds publicly proclaiming themselves as untouchable. To the extent we envy them, because we know even you can’t get them.
Zeze has been in public sector reforms together with Seodi White…..for a number of years! What’s different today? And in 90 days! [..nice suit and black shoes…though]
Let’s calculate how much of the allowances that they have received for this meeting?
Allowances must fall!
Ndiye za 90 days ndalama zingati? Ma alowance oopsa mutapasane pamenepo. Nthawi inayake muzilowako mu ma ghetto, and see for yourselves people suffering. Tasforce upon taskforce, but the people are still in tatters. Allowances upon allowances….may the ancestors of our land intervene.
I just don’t see any merit in employing a PS or his Deputy on Contract. Maybe I am thick up there but can someone please tell me what are the likely Performance Targets for an Education, Labour, Agricultural etc PS when all there is to do is monitor adherence to set rules.
I heard at one time that government had hired a Specialist on Human Resources ( or some such task). This is the type of person who must be employed on Contract because there must be Deliverables at the end of the agreed period.
A Water Board CEO for example must be employed on Contract because he must deliver at the end of a specific period in terms of agreed Number of Connections, Reduced Losses, Number of Complaints etc.
Similar Contracts can apply to CEOs for ADMARC, MHC, ESCOM etc or even Government Ministers.
….But a PS? Convince me forks.
Let’s hope their resolutions will not end up like Chatsika report.. died naturally!Cry my beloved country!
Pse request for latest Cost of Living Expenses calculation from Centre for Social Concern to guide you on a reasonable living wage or emoluments.
koma abale anga; apa we are facing a deep rooted syndicate which every civil servant has experienced. its like a ritual. lets play more of human relation theory coupled with industry psychology because tomorrow we will need the same people.
The hypocrisy in meeting to discuss cutting poor civil servants allowances why rewarding yourselves hefty benefits. You self righteous buffoons.
Incorporate into the task force, former Auditor General Kampanje, one retired qualified accountant who has once worked in both private and public sector.
Ngati ukuwamenyera nkhondo malume ako, wauponda😅😅😅
He was actually very useless
I have lost trust in these Task Forces. Just wait and see.
The problem is not allowances but abuse of the allowances. The allowances have an intended purpose but the dpp and udf government abused the whole system and made everyone become a thief. Civil servants were sharing money without going to the field and PSs allowed this. One PS would sign for four workshops in a week. There is need for total clean up and controls for those leaving duty station.
Is the dpp or UDF who abused 6.2
Tonse government is total failure to the nation.
Pitani ku immigration passports office kuma boarders.
It looks like there is a lot of talent mismatch going on. Pray, what business has a reverend got to do in this undertaking?
You think every Reverend is like the puppy who preaches at your church?
Do you think Reverends are not educated? That’s what you insinuate? There are Pastors, Prophets, in short men/women of God who are well educated my friend!
Rev Elsie Tembo has been a Principal Secretary at Ministry of Tourism for your information.
Kudos to our government. This is a job well done!
Why all these pictures.Munakatha kulemba nkhani yanu yayifupiyo panalibe chobvuta, kusiyana ndi kuchulukitsa pictures
How much money will you be paid during these 90days?
Very stupid just fond of finding ways on how you can eat tax payers money
I hope they didn’t get allowances for this meeting.
Team camera posing nothing new will come out
All this effort and resources will go to waste as long as there is no stiff deterant to this corruption scurge. We need stiff punishments like death sentence like hanging or life imprisonment once convicted and no bail once arrested. We need serious resolve to this issue not just window dressing.
I hope these ladies and gentlemen will work without allowances.Just buy them nsima ku area 13 market at city centre.
Why not? They are not on anybodys employment list. Most of them are doing their own thing. Who is going to meet their costs, travel, accommodation and time? They would rather be baking their own bread, if no allowance is given.
I think you should be able to differentiate these ladies and gentlemen aginst those employed by government (civil servants)
Alandilanso ma allowance omwewo. Koma akapanga review, azabweza kuti atenge chomwe agwirizanacho
Check their sinful allowances. And check their smiles and tummies! Typical allowance loving citizens.