PAC still wants austerity measures

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) says it wants government to put in place austerity measures to reduce costs since President Lazarus Chakwera has maintained a bloated Cabinet.

According to a statement released yesterday signed by PAC chairperson Monsignor Patrick Thawale and public secretary Bishop Gilford Matonga, the quasi-religious group says implementing austerity measures will ensure the economic burden is shared with taxpayers.

Reads part of PAC’s statement: “As for the size of the Cabinet, we take the view that it is still a big Cabinet and runs counter to the commitment made during meetings between PAC and the leadership, as he then was, as a Presidential candidate.

According to the statement, PAC says it continues to observe decision-making processes on the fight against corruption and hailed Chakwera on his recent actions against the vice.

The statement further says demands for changes in other government positions such as Secretary to the Office of President and Cabinet (SPC) and other offices remain critical among the citizenry.

While urging ministers that have been reappointed to effectively and efficiently discharge their duties since the public has mixed reactions on some of them, PAC’s statement has hailed Chakwera for appointing more women into Cabinet in accordance with Section 11 (1) of Gender Equality Act.

But in his State of the Nation Address at the start of the 2022/23 Budget Meeting in Lilongwe yesterday, Chakwera announced new measures that would help government save resources.

The measures include: 

•             A review of the benefits for President and top government officials.

•             A reduction in procurement of motor vehicles.

•             MDAs to seek Treasury when approval recruiting.

•             MDAs to install and use pre-paid meters for utilities.

•             A digitalisation drive to reduce paperwork and fraud.

•             Procuring directly from manufacturers.

•             Hire ICT experts to man Integrated Financial Management System (Ifmis)

•             Operationalise Debt Retirement Fund.

Chakwera dissolved the Cabinet on Monday last week after coming under intense pressure from PAC and the civil society. The inaugural 31-member Cabinet served him for 17 months.

On Tuesday last week, Chakwera announced an initial list of 12 members with two new faces before appointing the last cohort of 18 individuals on Thursday to complete a 32-member troupe.