Malawi Public Service Reform Commission has given parastatals 30 days to come up with strategies and possible solutions that would turn around their institutions, most of which are perennial underperformers.
Speaking in Blantyre yesterday on the sidelines of a closed-door meeting between the Public Service Reforms Commission and management of parastatals, the commission’s principal secretary Nwazi Mnthambala said the idea is to challenge the establishments to improve and expand their service delivery.
She said: “After the 30 days, we will reconvene to review their [parastatals’] plans, which will include short-term, medium-term and long-term deliverables.”
The ultimatum was given to individual institutions during meetings presided by Vice-President Saulos Chilima who chairs the commission.
The commission is meeting parastatals from Tuesday to Friday (tomorrow) to appreciate issues hindering public service delivery, find potential solutions and approaches for improvement.
In Blantyre, the commission has so far met the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc), Southern Region Water Board (SRWB), Malawi Gaming Board/National Lotteries Board, Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC), Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC), Blantyre Water Board (BWB), Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) and Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
The high-level meetings follow President Peter Mutharika’s approval for the commission to look into reforms being implemented by the organisations.
After the Blantyre meetings, the commission will go to Lilongwe to meet parastatals based in Central and Northern regions.
Mutharika launched the reforms programme on February 11 this year and since then, several activities have been taking shape, especially those involving ministries that signed performance contracts.
