APM to champion one-stop service centres
The Public Service Reforms Commission has recommended President Peter Mutharika to champion establishment of the proposed one-stop-shop service centres to provide strategic leadership and earn the confidence of stakeholders.
Once established and fully implemented, the centres are set to give Malawians access to some commonly used government services such as immigration, drivers’ licences, birth certificates, registration of businesses and processing of land deeds under one roof, according to a policy paper The Nation has seen.
The arrangement is that citizens will be accessing the public services through the post offices and postal agencies nationwide.
Currently, Lilongwe and Mangochi post offices have been earmarked to champion the project with Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) financing the initial phase to the tune of K100 million ($200 000).
It is also proposed that Macra, which implements telecentres project across the country, will redesign its facilities to accommodate the service centres.
The concept paper says Mutharika will be the overall champion in driving the integrated service centres project and will be supported by a ministerial committee.
The President will also decide the leadership of the ministerial committee, a high-level decision making organ that will be meeting at least quarterly and “as need arises”.
There will also be a principal secretaries committee (PSC) whose key objectives will include reviewing policies, legislation and regulations to facilitate implementation of the service centres.
The initiative will also have technical coordinating committee (TCC), project management and service centre management teams working hand in hand with the service centre secretariat.
Due to limited available financing and the need to conduct extensive due diligence, explains the concept paper, the project’s roll-out will be in a two-phased approach involving several activities.
Public Service Reforms Commission spokesperson Constance Kilimo said on Thursday government has since instituted the TCC which is fully operational as well as the PSC, but the ministerial committee is yet to be established.
She said: “The technical committee oversees the planning and management of the project. So far, equipment and building specifications have been done including draft designs.”
According to Kilimo, the service centres will offer services from Department of Immigration (application and collection of passports), Registrar General, (registration of businesses), Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (application and collection of drivers’ licences), Department of Lands and Housing (land issues- deeds, disputes etc.) and Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) for payment of tax, among other services.
Countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe have reportedly made provision and procurement of selected public services stress-free in the region because of successful implementation of the one-stop-shop service centres.
The Public Service Reforms Commission is currently being chaired by Vice-President Saulos Chilima.
