Then the words spoken by Jeremiah the prophet were fulfilled. “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him whom a price had been set by the sons of Israel; and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” – Matthew 27: 9-10
The call for submissions of suggestions, advice, or encouragements, came this week from the Office of the Vice President, His Honor Dr. Saulos Chilima. He seeks input from Malawians on how to steer Malawi from its current three abominable sins. These are operating writ large in government systems on allowances, procurement, and civil servant’s contracts. It is a mad frenzied craze of sorts, a dance in the mud puddle of wealth creation, a yabber-dabber-doo form wave of sprinting out of poverty and into the land of double and triple salary packages. The craze knows no limits and exists at all levels.
As previously stated earlier, the craze has not always been a part of Malawi culture’s means of wealth creation. The three-crazed package hit Malawi in a grand slam fashion at the onset of the campaign for democracy in the 1990s. Up to this time I recall for years attending meetings at the Malawi Committee of the Save the Children and the Bible Society Youth Committee and never signed for any allowance. As for procurement, government tenders were a serious affair and the opening of tender documents given the integrity required in the running of government. The same was true with working in the civil service, where if one got employment because of political affiliations, one did one’s job to the best of his or her capabilities, not wanting to shame his or her appointer.
The changes in our mode of government paved the way for freedoms in the three arms of government: but none more so than in the House of Parliament. Political freedom for this arm of government has led through the years to raising salaries, sitting allowances, housing allowances, T&T allowances, and the big benefit of MPs being freed from paying duties on all imports. Compounding this sector malaise is the breakdown of procurement and employment systems that political freedoms ripped rather than mend.
As President Chakwera has said the whole system is broken and the whole system must be repaired. The VP’s soliciting our submissions for the repairs to the systems. They are, after all, our systems. The nationwide repairing of the swampy systems must be owned by every Malawian. Every Malawian, must, without malice or prejudice, make every effort to contribute to the Taskforce that has been established to make the repairs. We created the swamps, we shall repair them!
Leadership must be tough on this run-away train at all levels in the country. The Vice President (who is in charge of the Taskforce), guided by the President can and must put a stop to the bleeding in our once admired civil service and country. They will need to be strong, tough, and resolute, speaking with one voice. Work from within the party caucus, parliamentarians, and judiciary. For the good of Malawi.
Working virtually is the new way of meetings, training, and other gatherings. Along with the virtual meeting, all types of allowances must stop immediately throughout Malawi, everywhere, and for everybody. Everybody includes officials in the executive, parliament, judiciary, parastatals, and the local government. All training, workshops, sensitization campaigns, and seminars, should be conducted virtually.
When a government employee travels outside the country, inviting organizations normally provide per diems. This is sufficient and there is no need for government to top up with allowance.
The government should with immediate effect stop all out of town, at the Lake meetings.
Furthermore, the government must pave the way for a boost in connectivity systems, reduce the cost of WiFi by for example reducing taxes; in this vein, the government must connect with its donors such as the Bill and Melinda Gates, Apple, and Clinton Foundation, to secure computers and meeting equipment.
Lastly on the procurement and the employment contract, the government should create commissions similar to the Malawi Electoral Commission. This should be comprised of the different parties represented in Parliament. The commission must be independent of political meddling.
It is possible to rid Malawi of the malaise and stop the waste, theft, and abuse that are designed and infused in systems of allowances, procurement, and employment contract.
Malawi can clean up its act on these three vile practices; we can mend our evil villainous ways. It is important that we do. Our children’s futures depend on this.