By Pemphero Malimba:
Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno has challenged non-State actors to offer solutions to challenges Malawi is facing.
She said this in Lilongwe yesterday when she officially opened this year’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) week.
OPG is a multilateral initiative that secures commitments from national and sub-national governments to promote open government, fight corruption and strengthen governance.
During this week, reformers in and outside of government have come together to think of solutions to some of Malawi’s most pressing problems.
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Chang’anamuno said non- State actors need to work with the government by raising their voices to overcome current and future challenges.
“The power and potential of democracy and open governance need not be overemphasised. Where society join hands, the likely outcome of more ambitious and impactful reforms will surely transform our societies and communities,” she said.
The minister said she was happy with the achievements reportedly made through the OGP National Action Plan 2023- 25.
Malawi is in the final year of implementing the plan, which focuses on anti-corruption, right to information, digital government, open Parliament and natural resources.
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Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Janet Banda, who is also chairperson of the National Steering Committee of OGP Malawi, said longer-term strategies for implementation of the action plan are necessary for meaningful achievements.
“It is important not to be overambitious in choosing thematic areas. Malawi settled for five areas which seemed few at the time.
“Implementation of the current action plan has taught us that each thematic area is a programme on its own and demands time and resources,” Banda said.
committed
Council for Non- Governmental Organisations in Malawi Executive Director Ronald Mtonga said they are committed to ensuring that government institutions perform efficiently and transparently.
Malawi joined the OGP movement in 2013 but started making active participation in 2022.
During the week up to May 31, government and non- State actors will share ideas, challenges and progress made in the thematic sectors.
