Malawi Parliaments shoots down presidential appointments in National Planning Commission

Opposition parliamentarians on Friday shot down proposals in a bill that would have empowered a sitting head of state appoint public officers.

Finance, Economic Planning and Development Minister  Goodall Gondwe had tabled in the House a bill seeking to establish a National Planning Commission.

Gondwe proposed in the bill that commissioners be appointed by a sitting President.

However, this did not go down well with the opposition members of parliament. Some of them noted that institutions whose members are appointed by the president are not performing to the expections of Malawians whilst others said giving powers to the President to make the appointments would fan corruption.

The President also appoints board members of statutory corporations most of whom, including Escom and waterboards, perform below par.

Tthe National Planning Commission (NPC) will help to formulate and review policies and strategic plans for national development and also recommend allocation of resources.

It  will be an independent body for strategic thinking on matters of national development, established by an Act of Parliament.

Development experts have always called for a national development plan that could guide the country’s long-term development agenda.

NPC will be housed in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), headed by a director general with the rank of deputy chief secretary.

The commission shall be reporting to the National Planning Council, which will be chaired by the President and deputised by Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development and their main purpose will be to ensure continuity of development.