Peter changes Cabinet policy
President Peter Mutharika has warned he will dismiss any Cabinet minister who makes unilateral policy decisions, commit government to undertakings not approved by Cabinet and collude with public officers to circumvent the law for selfish ends.
Speaking when he officially opened an orientation workshop for ministers and deputy ministers at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi yesterday, Mutharika, whose administration has so far taken several policy paradigm shifts, said he expects a Cabinet that is above board and which provides exemplary leadership.
Said the President: “Over the years, I have noted, with great concern, that, oftentimes, ministers and deputy ministers unilaterally approve sectoral policies or, indeed, commit government to certain major undertakings without involving Cabinet. I will not tolerate it because it is unprofessional and out of order. It ought to stop forthwith.
“I will not hesitate to fire any minister, deputy minister or controlling officer who deliberately circumvents the rule. Where in doubt, please consult the Chief Secretary to the Government for advice.”
The President’s warning capped weeks of new policy announcements, which include a directive last week to restructure the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) to remove all functions that did not fall within the core of the office’s responsibilities and aligning them to sector ministries.
The President said the three-day workshop has been organised to prepare members of the Cabinet to ably meet the challenges besetting the nation by equipping them with knowledge on government systems, processes and procedures.
He urged the ministers to always comply with the law in the conduct and when discharging their duties, reminding them that: “please always remember that no one is above the law in this country.”
The Public Finance Management Act, 2003; the Public Procurement Act, 2003, and the Public Audit Act, 2003—pieces of legislation enacted for fighting financial discipline in the public sector—are among those that will be covered during the seminar.
Mutharika emphasised his commitment to fight corruption, and, thus, advised the ministers to be beyond reproach, saying issues of transparency and accountability are extremely important.
Former vice-president Justin Malewezi, a long-time civil servant, is one of the resource persons at the workshop being held at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge’s Lakeshore International Conference Centre.
