The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) have stressed the need for strategic communication to be built on trust to connect institutions with the public in advancing development.
OPC Principal Secretary for administration Rashid Mtelera and MRA Commissioner General Felix Tambulasi made the call in Blantyre on Thursday during a public and private sector interaction organised by the Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM).
Mtelera said that no country can sustainably achieve its aspirations when there is a disconnect between institutions and the people they are meant to serve.
“This is precisely where the Public Relations Society of Malawi has a pivotal and indispensable role to play. The society stands at the centre of connecting national ambitions with public understanding,” he said.
Mtelera further urged communicators to communicate responsibly because narratives shape how investors view the country and how young people see their future.
Tambulasi, who was the keynote speaker, said with a tax revenue target of K6.2 trillion in this fiscal year that ends on March 31 2027, MRA’s role in economic recovery is substantial.
He acknowledged that this cannot be achieved through enforcement alone, but through strengthened by trust, clarity, stakeholder engagement and reforms that are understood, accepted and effectively implemented.
“That is why strategic communication goes beyond just sharing information. It works by making sure the messaging is purpose-driven, audience focused, consistent across all channels and informed by client feedback,” said Tambulasi.
PRSM president Rachel Kalera Mhango said the engagement sought to create space to discuss leadership and dive deep into conversations about trust, institutional resilience and the importance of communication.
“The truth is that our world has fundamentally changed, the economy has changed, leadership has changed and stakeholders’ expectations have changed,” she said.
Mhango said communication seems simple until institutions begin to experience misunderstanding, mistrust, reputational damage and institutional challenges.
PRSM organised the high-level public and private sector meeting targeting chief executive officers and directors of parastatals, agencies and private institutions.
