Minister Mtambo launches Pabwalo platform  for Malawians to engage duty bearers

Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, Timothy Mtambo, on Friday launched the long-awaited online Government-Citizens Engagement platform, which has been christened Pabwalo in the local dialect Chichewa.

Mtambo stressing a point during the launch of the Pabwalo Online Platform.
Mtambo and other delegates pose for a group photo after the launch—Photos by Watipaso Mzungu, Nyasa TImes

The platform has been designed to foster greater communication and engagement between duty-bearers and rights-holders as it allows two-way communication on national issues between the people and the government.

Speaking when he launched the platform at the Lilongwe Hotel on Friday, Mtambo said this demonstrates the zeal by the Tonse Alliance Government to spearhead the creation of an open, transparent and accountable government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens.

He further stated that the platform is part of the ministry’s transformative civic education civic drive whose aim is to create a knowledgeable and civically empowered society that is responsible and patriotic.

“There is compelling evidence, globally, that a citizen-centred public service is typically accomplished where social accountability approaches that underpin democratic participation to keep duty bearers, public servants, and public institutions accountable exist. Recent surveys continue to indicate that most Malawians are still not thoroughly acquainted with the obligations that the State has on them and Citizen’s responsibilities and duties towards the State,” he said.

Mtambo emphasized that knowledge is vital to the realization of a working state-citizen relationship, which is one of the primary pillars of a strong democracy.

He cited the 2017 Afro barometer study, which showed that the vast majority of Malawians do not contact the appropriate public office or agency regarding a significant issue let alone voice their opinion on the delivery of services.

“Government that effectively responds to the needs and demands of the citizens it serves. It is derived from communication for development which is a systematic, planned and evidence based strategic process that uses consultation and participation of the citizenry and networks.   The platform, is, therefore, critical because democracies, throughout the world, are sustained by citizens who have the requisite knowledge, skills and dispositions to hold their government accountable. Such a knowledgeable and skilful citizenry creates a free and open society that enables government realise its social and economic development goals,” said Mtambo.

He said his ministry will use the platform to promote an earnest state-citizen relationship that will spur social and economic development of the country by bringing government and the people together to discuss and dialogue on important issues pertaining to national development.

“In other words, the platform will organise government – public interface meetings and open discussion forums where officials from government Ministries, Departments and Agencies {MDAs} will articulate the functions, duties and services of their respective MDAs. The people will, in turn, voice their concerns, and what they expect from the MDAs and government in general,” added Mtambo.

The German Ambassador to Malawi, Jurgen Borsch, has welcomed the development, saying it will promote citizen participation in democracy and other critical matters of national importance.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
14 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ejohn
2 years ago

I like the as nzika

Nyusesi
2 years ago

Bull shit mtambo. This is a futile initiative. Kodi mesa Govt already has a website? Why not upload your nosense on govt website so that citizens can read from there and give their reaction? By the way, is creating an internet platform what you can call a ministerial achievement? Kodi iwe m’burundi mtambo when shall you apologize for your terrorist actions commited together with your warlord Chakwera? Fotseki!!

UNIMA Council not creative enough
UNIMA Council not creative enough
2 years ago

Where can I access the platform? I have to provide an idea about govt’s problem of school teacher management. Of course I know I will be wasting my time since the president will rather NOT listen to the wisdom of neural Malawians but to lies of his cronies. Jelasi down, gin walero amukazingatu, ndipo ndikanakhala kuti sindinamuyambe nthawi yabwino sindikanazindikira

Last edited 2 years ago by UNIMA Council not creative enough
patriotic writer and reviewer

This initiative looks good but implementation, use and sustainability is likely to be a problem. First of all most of the politically initiated innovations have ended up in political dustbins. We are yet to see how this initiative is different from the rest. Secondly, for this initiative to be effective, relevant information generation and dissemination tools and platforms have to be generated. Who will do this bearing in mind that it will target different cadres of audiences. The only effective and relevant inon-governmental institution NICE has failed to adequately and creatively failed to address this due to capacity gaps. Thirdly,local… Read more »

Dausee
Dausee
2 years ago

This drug dealer attempted to hijack his own ministerial VX to settle debts he owes his Zambian suppliers.

Derty
Derty
2 years ago

The whole minister?

Genghis Khan
2 years ago

Online engagement, really? What about the extant digital divide? How can people engage digitally when MACRA does nothing about the high internet tariffs? Even our students have no adequate digital access because of the high airtime and internet rates. Kungokopera za azungu. The Development Broadcasting Unit used to run the Ndizathuzomwe Project using Radio Listening Clubs. You could have improved on that one instead of trying to start something new. All this just shows Civic Education should be a department under Ministry of Information.

Gedion Butao
Gedion Butao
2 years ago

Mtambo has shown that being being a cabinet minister is not for the faint hearted. Whatever you decide to launch, to me you have failed as a minister-big time.

Chokwadu
Chokwadu
2 years ago

The first issue is to ask u what you are doing to compensate us for the damage to our businesses and the death of Imedi and undressing of a police woman. For your information I hate you Ntambo

Nyakwawa nyaxxy
Nyakwawa nyaxxy
2 years ago

Za mkutu! Useless, redundant, hapless. This mans job is a joke

Read previous post:
Govt threatens to withhold pay cheques for striking teachers

Government says it will withhold April pay cheques for teachers who fail to return to classes by April 12. A...

Close