It is commendable to see the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima sweating to implement reforms in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
In his capacity as Minister responsible for Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, Chilima must focus on framing austerity measures that will help our economy to grow during the Tonse Alliance Government tenure and beyond.
Firstly, the Vice President drilled the central region on reforms before dating southern region of the country on the same. Currently, the Veep with his files of public sector reforms is in the north of Malawi.
The Vice President must make sure that there is financial discipline in MDAs if his reforms are to benefit the country. The Vice President must make sure that public funds are not squandered by corrupt civil servants through dubious contracts, inflated allowances and illegal procurement of Government items.
Malawi is a country with potential to move from low to middle class economy if Government can choose to intensively invest in her agrarian base. The agricultural base of the country can help it to also become an industrial based economy. The two engines “agriculture,” and “industry,” can lubricate the country’s social economic growth.
The Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima in his capacity should discipline civil servants through his reforms to make sure that no any coin is spent on unproductive programs. Being an Economist, Chilima has vast knowledge on how to manage the economy of the country.
Of recent, Malawi Fiscal Police have arrested various Government officials who are suspected of embezzling public funds during the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government. Such selfishness has to end and the reforms must focus on making sure that there is transparency in financial transactions in the Government.
No country in the world can smell economic boom if corruption is rampant. The Public Sector Reforms must focus on taming the vice called corruption. Through corruption, billions of Kwachas end up in bank accounts of greedy individuals instead of benefiting the country at large.
Mr Vice President, I wish you all the best as you are reforming our MDAs. My plea to you is that focus on disciplining the civil servants on financial management.
Feedback: malengabright@gmail.com.
