Ministries share reform progress

Tom Sangala October 30, 2015

250 1 minute read

Ministries that signed performance contract with President Peter Mutharika in February 2015 are this week meeting the Public Service Reforms Commission to share the progress they have registered so far.

The ministries that include Home Affairs & Internal Security, Health, and Education Science and Technology met the Vice President Saulos Chilima-led commission back to back from Monday at Capital Hill in Lilongwe.

Spokesperson for the Public Service Reforms Management Unit Constance Kilimo confirmed of the meetings, saying the ministries shared their progress of the second quarter – July to September.

“What will follow is that a new consolidated progress report will be made public soon highlighting what the ministries have implemented so far. Otherwise, these meetings are part of the culture of the commission to track down progress,” said Kilimo.

One of the key ministries that signed the performance contract is Home Affairs and Internal Security which through the National Registration Bureau is tasked to start the issuance of the much awaited National Identity Cards.

So far the bureau has done much of the ground work including the establishment of the IDs production centre and plans to start issuing the IDs to Malawians in February 2016.

In a country where people use a travelling passport as an ID, this reform area will be the game changer of the Mutharika administration in making gain trust.

Meanwhile, President Mutharika has appointed Dr. James Maida as a new commissioner for the reforms replacing the late Bright Mangulama.

Dr. Ma ida who is agricultural scientist has held various government positions including Head of Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition Division of Bvumbwe Research Station before becoming Principal Secretary responsible for National Research Council of Malawi.

He was also once a controlling officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, and Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication before serving as Regional Coordinator of Programmes of Work for Forestry, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Sub-sectors in the Sadc region.

Maida observed that having attended meetings of the Public Service Reform Commission, he has been greatly reassured by the desire displayed by the Chair of the Commission to ensure that the reforms are guided by knowledge of the utility of the lamp of the past.

“There was time when Malawi’s public service was recognised as one of the best in this region, attracting several visitors from some of the neighbouring countries who came to learn more about it,” he said.