CSOs slam principal secretaries
Principal secretaries (PSs) have been taken to task for playing “masters of the game” and misinterpreting the functions of civil society organisations (CSOs) in national development.
Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), a network of over 60 CSOs, says PSs misconstrue roles of civil society groups because they consider themselves as architects of the game and by being in government they do not have to listen to anybody.
The assertion comes after the PSs allegedly shunned a high-level forum in Lilongwe two weeks ago aimed at reviewing the African Union (AU) instruments which Malawi ratified and also to look at critical challenges that need to be addressed.
During the meeting there was good participation of parliamentarians, including leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera, members of the Pan African Parliament, among others.
However, according to HRCC chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba, there were only two PSs in attendance despite the organisers extending invitations to all line ministries.
Mkwezalamba said there is more work to be carried out to sensitise the PSs for them to understand functions of the civil society in complementing government’s efforts.
“PSs are implementers of government policies, but most of them sit on these policies. They lack direction and vision on how to implement them because they have limitations and challenges which can ably be presented by the civil society groups,” he observed.
Mkwezalamba said it is unfortunate that most PSs feel that they are only accountable to ministers.
“But they forget that ministers will always come and go but they will remain in government. As such, they need players on the ground like CSOs. They shouldn’t treat us as opponents but partners in development. Our role is to translate some of the adopted government policies into reality,” he said.
But Chief Secretary to the Government George Mkondiwa, specifically citing the Lilongwe meeting, said most invited PSs did not attend because of short notice.
“I know about it, it was at a short notice and I even told the organisers to postpone it. That is why many did not attend. Actually, they wanted me to be there but I had prior commitments so I delegated,” he explained.
In September last year, Vice-President Saulos Chilima allegedly barred some PSs from attending a meeting he convened at Capital Hill for coming late.
Next week, government is scheduled to hold a dialogue meeting with the leadership of the country’s civil society on a Grand Petition II which they issued in May 2016 demanding substantive actions on the challenges facing the country.
But Mkwezalamba said the CSOs are hoping the principal secretaries from various line ministries will attend the dialogue meeting as that would give a better leverage in that the issues they raised for specific ministries will get direct responses and instant feedback. n
