LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Firstly, Many workers leave their jobs because the hours are unsuitable or unsociable, and they are seeking greater flexibility. More discussions around flexibility, as well as offering the opportunity to work remotely, or from home, can help to combat this.
Secondly, In general, people leave their jobs because they don’t like their boss, don’t see opportunities for promotion or growth, or are offered a better gig (and often higher pay); these reasons have held steady for years.
Thirdly, toxic workplace characterised by conflicts, bullying, harassment, or a negative culture can be a major factor in employee turnover. A negative workplace culture can lead to stress, demotivation, and ultimately, resignation. Such an environment can drive employees to seek a healthier and more positive work atmosphere.
Fourthly, When a top employee leaves, it might be because your current environment does not entice them to stay.
Understanding why they are leaving is important, and thanking them for their quality work provides an avenue for top talent to return in the future.
The challenge
In August 2022, President Reverend Lazarus Chakwera was featured for appointing people who already retired from public service, saying the trend indicated that there was no hope for youths to completely take over any time soon.
Human Rights Consultative Committee Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba queried the president for appointing Brigadier General Charles Kalumo (Rtd) as the new head of the Immigration and Citizenship Services department.
In an interview with Zodiak, Mkwezalamba said the move was retrogressive in as far as promoting the youth and serving members of the department was concerned who were below the retirement age.
He argued that, the president had lost an opportunity to deliver his campaign promise of empowering the youth.
In July, 2023, Workers at Department of Immigration have accused their Director General Brigadier General Charles Kalumo (retired) of incompetence and abuse of office, saying his conduct was ‘Zinjathropic’ and counterproductive.
In January, 2024, Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services stopped processing of passports, but did not indicate when it would resume operations.
The department issued a statement that gave an update on the issue and cited technical fault as having affected the processing of the document.
In March 2024, The Immigration Department in Malawi said the passport issuance system which went down in January had been restored and passport printing would resume in Lilongwe that week.
Government reduced charges for the ordinary e-passport with 10-day waiting period from MK90,000 to MK50,000.
This was according to a statement released by the Immigration Department today.
On 16 March, 2024, in a well investigated story carried by Twinkspurge Jones Gadama, Maravi Post, exposed the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for deceiving the public with false promises of passport issuance services.
The press release issued on March 12, titled Update on passport issuance services, claimed that the restoration of e-passports had been completed and that the issuance of passports would begin in Lilongwe before expanding to other regions.
In addition, it was announced that passport fees would be reduced from K90,000 to MK50,000.
However, as eager Malawians flocked to Lilongwe in anticipation of finally obtaining their passports, they were met with disappointment as there was no sign of the promised services.
It soon became clear that the press release was nothing more than a fabrication, a blatant lie orchestrated by the Director General of Immigration, C.D.E Kalumo.
Upon further investigations, it was revealed that Kalumo had rushed to release the press release in order to appease his boss, President Chakwera, who had directed that passport issuance be prioritized.
All this suffices one to resign from his job for incompetence but he hasn’t done so.
All these incompetence should have resulted in Brigadier General Kalumo getting fired, but the President is still quiet up-to-date, which is quite annoying and disappointing at the same time.
The failure to fire an incompetent Director General is another incompetence and indecisiveness in the president himself.
My opinion
In my opinion, Retired Brigadier General Kalumo cannot and doesn’t want to resign because he doesn’t understand and value the need of doing so.
Often times, it is possible to turn an underperforming employee’s behaviour around, especially when their behaviour is indicative of a larger business problem.
In some instances, an underperforming employee can be like a canary in a coal mine: An indicator that something is wrong. When addressed sensitively, employee underperformance may even help you identify issues in your business that, when addressed, can improve the employee experience across your organization.
By clearly communicating expectations in a non-antagonistic way, allowing them to improve, putting a PIP in place, listening to their frustrations, and finding ways to help them do a better job and feel proud of doing it, not only do you set up underperforming employees for success, you can possibly even help improve their lives for the better.
Conclusion
Tonse Alliance Government is here to damage all sectors of government therefore, let us give them the last chance of the remaining one year before Elections in 2025 after which they must be removed from power through the ballot.
If Malawians allow this government to continue behind 2025, there will be nothing good to gain from a gang of bandits.
It’s everyone’s show to do as they please, so let them pack and go is they cannot improve government services.
