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Reforms department laments enabling laws enactment delays 

T

he Public Sector Reforms Management Department (PSRMD) has disclosed that delays in enacting enabling laws is derailing the implementation of the reforms.

PSRMD spokesperson Suzgo Khunga said this in reaction to Nation on Sunday assessment of the reforms under the Public-Sector Reforms Policy which expires this year.

The reforms are actions or processes of changing structures and institutions or practices to improve them in terms of professionalism, innovation, effectiveness and efficiency.

Khunga: Reforms need enabling laws

She said: “We have identified the slow pace in enacting enabling laws for smooth implementation of reforms in some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and engaged the relevant authorities on how these can be speeded up. 

“For example, the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Act has been repealed and a fresh law enacted after challenges were noted that approval processes for PPP arrangements that were identified as reform areas were too slow.

“With the new law, there is now an improved process for unsolicited bids that is expedited and incentivises the private sector to come up with solutions to challenges affecting the public sector service delivery.”

Khunga, however, said through the framework they have made significant achievements which she narrowed it down to the parastatals and district councils.

She said: “Through the policy, the PSRMD identified major issues of focus among them financial sustainability, legislative and administrative reforms MDAs focused on processes, policies and legislation that would enable the smooth implementation of reforms.

“Parastatals focused on reforms that would result in the realisation of financial sustainability and autonomy to ease pressure on the central government purse.”

Khunga said, among the achievements, councils’ health sectors are able to generate additional revenue through introduction of pay services.

She also pointed at the delinking of University of Malawi constituent colleges as another success story, saying: “There is tremendous infrastructure development in the new universities resulting in the expansion of programmes and increasing further enrolment.”

Khunga further cites the construction of tollgates which are generating K3.5 billion annually as another fruit of the reforms.

Going forward, the spokesperson said the department wants to align all reforms to the Malawi 2063 pillars and enablers which focus on ensuring the nation attains significant growth by year 2063.

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