MCP opposes ‘illegal’ Malawi public service reform

Malawi Congress Party(MCP)  has attacked government on the launch of the a reform program aimed at boosting the efficacy of public services, claiming government is not following the law in initiating the reforms.

MCP spokeswoman Jessie Kabwila and Jospeh Njobvuyalema discussing -..Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
MCP spokeswoman Jessie Kabwila and Jospeh Njobvuyalema discussing -..Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
President Mutharika with Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya during the launch of the reforms
President Mutharika with Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya during the launch of the reforms

President Peter Mutharika launched the reforms programme on Wednesday in the capital Lilongwe at a ceremony which was also attended by MCP president and leader of opposition Lazarous Chakwera, the Speaker of Parliament and Chief Justice.

MCP spokesperson on financial matters in parliament, Joseph Njobvuyalema Joseph Njobvuyalema, said government is raping the laws in the way the reform process is being carried, warning that the reforms when fully implemented will be “illegal”.

Njobvuyalema said the reforms Commission headed by Vice President Saulos Chilima, “is not mandated by law to do so.”

He said: “Government should have followed the law in formulating the commission as the law stipulates in the constitution.”

The MCP lawmaker advised: “Some laws need to change and if government will continue to neglect the law the reforms will be illegal therefore nonsense.”

Njobvuyalema said government should seek legal mandate from parliament in the whole reform agenda.

But during a launch ceremony held in capital Lilongwe, President Mutharika asserted:  “Reforms will be done, and will be done now.”

Mutharika then publicly signed an operational performance agreement with his ministers to show his commitment to the planned raft of reforms.

The agreement provides clear steps so that the country’s civil service performs at optimal levels, while civil servants are made fully accountable.

“Malawians want change, and this change will be made because we all want change,” said Mutharika.

In June of 2014, Mutharika established the Public Service Reform Commission in line with campaign promises to create a dynamic and efficient public service.

Malawi’s civil service has evolved from a British colonial service that had been a largely independent, non-political and meritocratic administration for governing the state.

But today, the service faces myriad problems, including weak governance structures; an abundance of red tape; poor accountability; low professional standards; waste and corruption; low productivity; redundancy; and a bloated staff structure, according to the reform commission.

Last year, top civil servants were implicated in the pilfering of some $100 million in a public service scandal locally known as “Cashgate.”

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enock Malunga
enock Malunga
9 years ago

Lets change our ways of thinking to build better malawi

nyasi mmaso
nyasi mmaso
9 years ago

Anthuwa zophwanya malamulo ndizawo.wina alira kuti mfweee. Ogwira ntchitowo ndife ndipo tidakapangabe ma strike. Until pamene azadziwe kuti anzeru nditonsefe

idol
idol
9 years ago

Mr Njovu´s comment has already been addressed in the launched report. Mr Njovu muzisusa mutawelenga kaye, otherwise zoti tizichitisana manyazi chonsecho kuwelenga mumatha sizabwino.

IKLC
IKLC
9 years ago

MCP IS NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST THE REFORMS BUT ITS SAYING THAT PROCEDURES NEED TO BE FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO ESTABLISHED CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL STATUTES….. ZAMVEKA?
OSAPANGA PHUMA..TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE GIST OF THE ARGUMENT NOT JUST TALKING LIKE NKHULULU

Say
Say
9 years ago

We Malawians are very funny; we spend alot of money launching reforms which we are not sure if they really are going to be implemented. Launching is just a ceremony; I wished we implemented the reforms without even spending moneys on launching. If this goes political, I assure you all these launches would just have consumed our money for nothing. VERY SOON WE WILL STOP SINGING THIS SONG OF REFORMS.

Vavlov
Vavlov
9 years ago

Bakili Muluzi inherited a professional civil service which he destroyed by appointing mediocre people from the muslin sect and Yao stribe. Same illiterate people many still occupy high positions in government. He even appointed a fish monger from Mangochi as deputy high commissioner to Mozambique, who couldn’t even speak English. It is these mediocre civil servants that fuel corruption and inefficiency in the civil service. We look forward to an objective reform and not a platform for “Lomwelisation” of the civil service. Also watch out DPP may use this to recruit people who will facilitate rigging of the next general… Read more »

Matako
Matako
9 years ago

The problem with us Malawians is that we just accept things without questioning them. This is done even when the process is flawed. MCP is not against change but rather the way in which government want to achieve the end result. This has happened in this country where government of the day has ignore3d the constitution. If I might add the constitution was put in place to protect will-nilly changing of laws in the country. Wake up people it is the same government that is borrowing money from private companies like Mota Engil without notifying the parliament. who holds the… Read more »

little jojo
little jojo
9 years ago

Njovuyalema knows that if these reforms work MCP ili mmadzi 2019
.

chie
chie
9 years ago

Abale a kongilesi , kumangotsutsa zili zonse? Nate jese ukwati unatha kamba kongotsutsa amunake chilichonse!

justin
justin
9 years ago

Reformation should not focus on the civil service only but also in the political parties and parliament.

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