Youth and Society (YAS) has demanded the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) immediately halt politically-motivated appointments in public institutions, citing meritless hiring that burdens taxpayers.
YAS warns that patronage is eroding institutional integrity and bankrupting agencies that are being forced to pay two salaries for a single position.
Governance under fire
In a compelling letter dated May 21 2026, YAS executive director Charles Kajoloweka called out Chief Secretary to the Government, Dr. Justin Saidi, over a growing, systemic pattern of politicised appointments within statutory corporations and public entities.
Kajoloweka stressed that this crisis strikes at the very heart of Malawi’s constitutionalism and public service integrity.
The toll of political patronage
The watchdog highlighted the devastating fallout of trading merit for political proximity:
lStrained finances: Some government agencies are paying two people to do the same job, placing an unjust financial burden on Malawian taxpayers.
lDemoralised workforce: Dedicated civil servants who expect to rise through established professional structures are being sidelined by political cadres.
lWeakened institutions: Replacing competitive, merit-based processes with political rewards breeds incompetence, severely compromises professionalism, and destroys public trust in the State.
Bold demands for reform
Kajoloweka has urged the OPC to take immediate, corrective action.
The key demands include
Full independence: Allow statutory boards to independently execute their recruitment and governance mandates, completely free of political meddling.
lReview and rescind: Any senior appointments made in statutory corporations outside of lawful, competitive recruitment procedures must be urgently reviewed and, where necessary, revoked.
lStrict moratorium: Impose a strict blockade on any further senior appointments in public institutions that bypass lawful and transparent processes.
