Don’t be hindrances, Zamba tells parastatals’ boards

Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba has urged board of directors of parastatals and State-owned enterprises against being barriers to successful implementation of programmes of their institutions.

She said this yesterday in Mangochi during the Corporate Governance Orientation Workshop for Statutory Corporations and State -Own e d Enterprises.

Zamba reminded the directors that they were appointed in those positions to serve the public, hence, called on them to put in place systems and controls that safeguard public resources for the benefit of ordinary Malawians.

She said: “As board director, you are expected to ensure that ethics, integrity and accountability prevail in your institution in a bid to bring back public trust that has been soiled.”

Zamba said currently most parastatals have failed to operate in a satisfactory manner; hence, the board of directors must come up with strategic measures or policies that can turn-around their institutions.

“Do away with the culture of misusing resources. All wasteful and self-enriching tendencies will not be tolerated.

“We will not hesitate to issue serious penalties to the perpetrators without fear or favour,” she warned.

Comptroller of Statutory Corporations Peter Simbani stressed the need for the parastatals and the State-owned enterprises to ensure financial prudence, saying imprudent use of resources paralyses institutions.

“ The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation has been laid-off to be prudent and efficient with public resources,” he said.

Malawi School of Government board chairperson Professor Lewis Dzimbiri said the workshop was necessary because it would equip the participants with necessar y tools for effective performance in their capacity.

“The board of directors from the parastatals and State-owned enterprises are very critical to the country. They are the hub of the nation,” he said.

The workshop was organised by the Statutory Corporations and the Malawi School of Government to acquaint the newly-appointed board of directors of parastatals and State-owned enterprises.