Veep touts progress on reforms meetings

Vice-President Saulos Chilima has expressed satisfaction with progress parastatals are making on reforms they have been undertaking in the first-quarter of the year.

According to his press secretary Pilirani Phiri, the Veep has so far engaged 35 parastatals on the review of progress they are making on implementation of the various reforms.

Chilima will be engaging with the remaining parastatals after the Easter break.

Said the Veep: “As we break for the Easter holidays today, we have engaged 35 parastatal organisations to track progress that they have registered so far.

“While there are mixed achievements, generally, progress is very positive. We are delighted that the parastatals can easily maintain the commitments to take the reforms forward.”

Phiri said some of the remaining parastatals Chilima is scheduled to engage after the Easter break are those from the sectors of agriculture, gender, finance, education, information, youth and sports and transport.

While wishing Malawians happy Easter festivities, the Veep said the review exercise has been taking place in the presence of parent ministries to make sure that all are on the same page.

The quarterly review meetings follow consultation meetings held last year where ministers signed performance contracts with President Lazarus Chakwera on November 23 2020, on behalf of parastatals that fall under their ministries.

Chilima, who is also Minister of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, started engaging parastatals and the private sector on implementation of public sector reforms in July last year.

In an interview on Thursday, governance expert Augustine Magolowondo, said public sector reforms are the most crucial reforms to be undertaken to achieve socio-economic and political transformation in the country.

He added that for the public sector reforms to be achieved there is need for mindset change for those working in parastatals.

“The initiative that the Vice-President is embarking on is crucial as it will give an impetus to what otherwise might have been forgotten in terms of reforms.

“He must work on changing and revolutionalising the people because it’s not just about the policies and legal frameworks in place but the people who are in place matter in terms of their attitude, mindset and their capacities,” said Magolowondo.

Chilima is serving a second-term as Vice-President, having been in the same position under the erstwhile governing Democratic Progressive Party leader Peter Mutharika.

Before falling out with Mutharika, the Vice-President was also in charge of the Public Sector Reforms Programme during which he introduced reforms that were lauded by critics for being effective.

Later, Mutharika directed that the reforms be handled by  the Office of the President and Cabinet.