JB demands progress reports from ministers

Malawi President Joyce Banda will from next week start meeting her Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and principal secretaries to receive reports on achievements and progress in each ministry.

This will be the first time the President, accused of extensive local travel and globe-trotting by governance commentators, meets  individual ministers since she ascended to power in April this year to do that.

A memo dated November 20 2012 from Secretary to Government Bright Msaka addressed to all ministers, deputies and principal secretaries, seen by The Nation, advises the ministries to prepare comprehensive reports for presentation to the President and the Cabinet committee on implementation.

The reports are expected to be based on achievements and progress in implementing and fulfilling the mandates of the ministries of moving forward the national development agenda and providing services to the Malawi public.

Minister of Information and Civic Education Moses Kunkuyu, who is also government spokesperson, said in an interview on Thursday will be a normal procedure under the Banda administration.

Kunkuyu said the President said she would be asking for progress reports, adding this was not a reactive decision to any issue.

Msaka advised the concerned officials to adequately prepare.

Wrote Msaka: “I shall soon prepare and circulate a schedule indicating the date and time when each ministry shall appear before the President and the committee.”

Malawi Watch executive director Billy Banda commended the President for deciding to meet her ministers to get reports on progress being made, but cautioned the officials to bring to the President reports  based on facts.

Banda said: “I am saying this because I know of politicians that have tendency to paint a rosy picture, either to maintain their positions or not to disappoint the President when things are actually bad on the ground.”

The former president, the late Bingu wa Mutharika, also demanded reports from his ministers, but the public never came to know whether that worked.