By Thandie Chadzandiyani
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse administration continues draining hard earn tax-payers money with unjustified appointments for appeasing party zealots, family members and friends.
For instance, the Tonse Alliance government has increased the number of principal secretaries (PSs), booming the annual wage bill for the mainstream civil service top-tier by around MK300 million and running a fleet of vehicles costing over K1 billion.
President Chakwera increased Cabinet portfolios from 18 to 23, adding five new PS positions. Additionally, the Ministry of Education now has two PSs—one for education and another for administration.
According to The Nation on Sunday, the Tonse administration also replaced six PSs, who have been deployed to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) to handle “special duties” unknown. Some of them confided in us that they “literally do nothing” meaning they are getting paid for sitting around.
According to the Department of Human Resources Management and Development (DHRMD), each PS earns around MK22 million per annum, of which MK17 million is salary, and MK5 million fuel allowance.
Each PS is entitled to an official vehicle—a Prado TX valued between MK100 million and MK110 million—according to Toyota Malawi prices, meaning the 12 extra PSs have been designated a fleet valued at over MK1 billion.
“In simple terms, each ministry has one PS, who is the controlling officer. Their number can, therefore, be determined by the number of ministries. However, PSs are pegged at Grade C, and in government we have almost 44 officers at that Grade. But not all are PSs.
“DHRMD’s main area of focus is grades and numbers. But for the actual figures serving as PSs the OPC would be in a better position since they are responsible for deployment of PSs and other common administrative service,” DHRDM public relations officer Kennie Ntonga explained.
Speaking with the opposition party (DPP) spokesperson on Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha said “We are very worried and disappointed with the increased PSs. Manifesto of Malawi Congress Party promised to be efficient in utilization of funds. What is happening is contrary which is total negligence and total inefficiency”.
Mwanamvekha continued that at the time the country was struggling economically, the government was supposed to be cutting “unnecessary expenses.”
“Revenues are low and the government is struggling to provide quality services in sectors such as education, health and energy. It is shocking that the government has chosen to misuse resources,” he said.
Mwanamvekha said he was planning to meet the Ministry of Finance and Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to seek answers on the PSs growing numbers.
Economic analyst Milward Tobias said Malawi’s economy is too small for a “bloated PSs and Cabinet”.
“Most of those were appointed due to political connections. Instead of promoting civil servants that are already in the service, the trend here is that a new administration always brings in people that don’t have an idea how to be PSs,” he said.
Describing this as discriminatory and promoting unfair labour practices, The Office of the Ombudsman has questioned.
President Chakwera continues with unnecessary appointments for appeasing his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) loyalists, friends and family members.
