VP Usi chides idle ‘reforms’ staff
Vice-President Michael Usi yesterday rebuked staff he purportedly found idling when he made an unannounced visit to an office under his Office of the Vice-President (OVP) at City Centre in Lilongwe.
During the visit, workers, including office assistants, cleaners, waiters and other low-ranking staff were found loitering and chatting.
Flanked by his security detail, Usi stormed the building with an air of authority and his presence immediately drew the attention of the workers who quickly went silent, their faces reflecting a mix of worry and dejection.
The Vice-President rebuked them for their lack of productivity and emphasised the importance of exemplary conduct, especially given the office’s critical role in housing reforms.
He said: “We depend on human capital in this country, and reforms are housed in my office. When you talk about mindset change, it should start with us. We should be a model.”
Usi instructed the staff not to report for work, but return on Friday with their job description, and a detailed account of the activities they have undertaken since he assumed office after the death of former vice-president Saulos Chilima in a military plane crash on June 10 2024.
He said he plans to personally address the matter with the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) to determine if the workers are fulfilling their roles.
In an interview yesterday, Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency executive director Willy Kambwandira said it is not surprising that the officers remain idle in their work places because the government abandoned public sector reforms a long time ago.
He said: “The Vice-President is a part of this problem. If the government intends to dismiss these officers, it should do so in an orderly manner, following proper disciplinary procedures.”
On his part, public planning and international policy expert Dr George Chaima observed that Usi has picked up from where Chilima stopped in his approach.
He expressed optimism that if Usi does not yield to resisting powers, Malawi will see a dawn of a new era with revolutionalised mentality committed to serving the nation with passion, dedication, patriotism and zero tolerance to corruption.
Said Chaima: “He must keep the lane and lose no sight in order to hit the target and eradicate enemies of the State, what seems to be missing in all this journey is action to demonstrate the change and the reform we need.”
This is not the first time the Vice-President has reprimanded public officers for a laissez-faire approach towards work.
In July this year, he made a surprise visit at Chikwawa District Council offices and Chikwawa District Hospital, where he said most civil servants report for duties as they wish, defying the official Malawi Government working hours from 7.30am to 4.30pm
President Lazarus Chakwera, the late Chilima and former president Bakili Muluzi have previously conducted similar surprise visits to State agencies.
