School of govt for ethical conduct in civil service

The Malawi School of Government (MSG) has developed programmes it says will address unethical conduct and corruption in the civil service.

The school’s director general Dr Asiyatu Chiweza said the institution is working with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to roll out programmes of study that will promote good ethical conduct in the civil service.

She was speaking in Lilongwe last week during a meeting MSG organised to appraise stakeholders on its programmes.

Chiweza said one of the key areas they will look at with the ACB is the institutionalisation of integrity committees, which MSG takes seriously.

She said: “We are in the process of developing a memorandum of understanding [MoU] that has a variety of components, including having courses as part of our regular programmes, but where the ACB has provided input.

“In fact, right now they have developed a number of courses for various levels and we will be focusing on those ones that relate to various levels of public service.”

MSG Council chairperson Lewis Dzimbiri said the school’s programmes are in line with the promotion of the country’s development blueprint, the Malawi 2063.

He said through the school’s training programmes, the working culture and competencies of the people in the civil service will improve.

Dzimbiri said: “In the Act of Malawi School of Government, it is mandatory for government ministries, departments and agencies to do 70 percent of their staff training requirements at the MSG.

“We also would like to align the programmes at MSG with the market needs, not only of the country but of the whole region.”

MSG is a merger of the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) in Kanengo, Lilongwe and Staff Development Institute (SDI) in Mpemba, Blantyre, which will form MSG’s two main campuses.