Stop it, activist Kajoloweka tells Chakwera not to hire Blair as Malawi advisor

An influential youth rights activist has called on President Lazarus Chakwera to stop the recruitment of Tony Blair and his team as advisors to the government, with some observeser saying his administarion has failed to explain what is their challenge.

Kajoloweka:  Mindset change, trust in the expertise of Malawians

Charged Kajoloweka, who is the executive director of Youth and Society has described the government’s  decision to hire the Tony Blair Institute (TBI ) as an insult  to the presidency.

This follows the confirmation by State House on Monday that  the former British Prime minister through his campany TBI will provide technical expertise to  State House and Capital Hill n at no cost .

But Malawians have protested vehemently against the decision in various social media platforms, arguing that government neded to implement a competitive procurement  process for such an exercise and outline wht TBI was chosen over competitors.

Kajoloweka said this indicates that the President does not believe in the country’s institutions and says it defeats the current goals of Public sector reforms.

“This is an embarrassment , it clearly indicates that the President  is not believing in himself.

“We do not need someone to tell us our problems, we know them and we believe this government will do it, unless you tell Malawians that the reforms are not impactful,”  said Kajoloweka.

Kajoloweka has further demanded that government should abort with immediate effect the hiring of TBI, saying it is a clear declaration of mediocrity.

The President’s executive assistant Sean Kampondeni  said the institute would assist Chakwera’s office to install a delivery unit that will enable him to address capacity deficiencies within the government machinery.

He said ever since Chakwera took office, he and his team have been conducting a full scale assessment of various governance institutions across the State machinery and have determined incompetence issues in multiple institutions.

“There are issues of unprofessionalism, incompetence and people occupying positions they are not qualified for, among others, so one of the things President Chakwera has put on his agenda is to set up a delivery unit that diagnoses capacity deficiencies in the State machinery so that his Cabinet, advisers and staff can address the gaps,” said Kampondeni.

He stressed that Blair has committed to provide the service at no cost to the taxpayer.

“So these people are here committed to assist the country and the President is welcoming any help from any experts who are willing to do so without taking advantage of the taxpayer money and Malawian people. The President is fully persuaded that these people, a team of three, who are currently in the country are committed to assisting him deliver his agenda.

“The institute has not set any agenda and do not decide what the focus of the administration is. It is the President who sets the agenda and engages them to provide specifically those issues which are of value addition to the process that’s being taken,” said Kampondeni.

This is the second time government is engaging the Blair Institute after former President Joyce Banda also engaged it in 2012 to provide a similar service.

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Melvin
Melvin
3 years ago

I concur with all that Mr. Kajoloweka has narrated. Tony Blair is the last person on planet earth to ask advise from. He is the devil incarnate. Very conniving, subjugating, twisted and corrupt person ever. The day Africans and African governments will distance themselves far away from the white people, it is the day they will be truly free, independent and prosperous. As the late Robert Mugabe, the man who hated Tony Blair with every intent and purpose once said, ” we do not need Tony Blair to tell us what to do. We have our own constitution here”. If… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Melvin
Domingos Matondo
Domingos Matondo
3 years ago

I think it be would better for Malawi to engage UK as a government to provide such technical support rather than dealing with an individual’s institutions whose drive is to raise funds. After all, is Blair a success story? May be om;y 40% he is. His governance style left a lot to be desired and cannot be considered a good mentor. Please consider dealing with governments on such technical support arrangements. You may strike deals that would reciprocate the same by sending our own men and women to UK, Australia etc for them to learn and adopt news ways of… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Domingos Matondo
Chimwemwe
3 years ago

I think we have experts within the country who understand our current status much better than a foreigner from UK. Our own ministers should shoulder the responsibility of formulating policies that can develop the country. We no longer need a bristish minister to be telling us what to do.

Benson
3 years ago

There is nothing wrong in hiring Blair, I can assure you that Malawians will benefit a lot from the services. Can you please give convincing arguments why you are against this move? Do you want to personally provide this service? Or do you have an organisation in mind that can successfully deliver this service at no cost to the taxpayers?

Lego
3 years ago

Whats wrong by hiring Tony Blair?Is it because he is not a Malawian?Are you telling me that Malawians are not working outside the country?Lets stop this nonsense of just being criticizing of whatsoever the government is doing.You can’t be critic of anything.We are in a modern world where you can work everywhere as long as you qualify to that.Stop it now and let us talk something else.We had some many Malawian advisers on the past presidents and what did we achieve,nothing.Let us see change this time.

Zio ine
Zio ine
3 years ago

But chakwera is very dull and needs such people to guide him. Imagine he had to hire the old and redundant Zangazanga Chikhosi to head the whole civil service and he is busy creating positions for MCp thugs Bendulo and others.
Chakwera has even an advisor on chiefs and this only shows how stupid the man is.

monosile
monosile
3 years ago
Reply to  Zio ine

Bendulo, a thug, what a stupid person you are you cadet, you are a living corpse, cargo without value thus what you are.

guest
guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Zio ine

koma Bendulo nde umalimbana nayetu….nde imagine ukhala ukulimbana naye for the next 5 years…ukhawula….khadeti tamuonerani

Ndafera Nkhande
Ndafera Nkhande
3 years ago

Come on Tony Blair help your party in UK to win back the authority you have lost .What advice can you give us? We dot not need your services at all.Our president has a horde of advisers inclusive of those who once worked in the UK civil service.Therefore thre is no vacancy for you.Period

Mwini muzi
Mwini muzi
3 years ago

Anything that is free from a human being is always suspicious. What is it that Malawians benefited from the very Tony Blair during JB’s reign that is still wanting in Chakwera’s government? There is something of personal benefit which JB achieved which Chakwera has yet to achieve and what ever that is, it must be so lucrative worthy Kampondeni spinning for his father in-law.

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