SPEECH TO BE DELIVERED BY HER EXCELLENCY DR.

JOYCE BANDA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI, DURING A MEETING WITH PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES AND HEADS OF INDEPENDENT AND CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES, TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, 20TH MAY, 2013, AT KAMUZU PALACE, LILONGWE, AT 9:00 A.M.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, MRS. HAWA NDILOWE; THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, MR. WILLIE SAMUTE; THE COMMANDER OF THE MALAWI DEFENCE FORCE, GENERAL ODILLO; THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE MALAWI POLICE SERVICE, MR. LOT DZONZI; PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES; HEADS OF INDEPENDENT AND CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

INTRODUCTION

I am delighted to preside over this meeting which has given me a unique opportunity to interact with you as Principal Secretaries and top most Senior Officials of the Malawi Public Service. This occasion is very important as it has afforded me a chance to share with you my thoughts regarding your role in the effective delivery of public services and how as Public Servants you may take part in the fulfilment of my Governments vision. I shall, during this

meeting, also expect to hear and receive your views on how best we may move together to achieve the socio-economic development of our country in an effort to eradicate poverty among the populace of Malawi.

Before I proceed, may I welcome you all to Kamuzu Palace. I am aware that most of you have visited this place before while on various assignments, but there could be others who have not. Please feel free and relax.

My address today will tackle matters that I feel are meant to motivate and facilitate an effective service delivery system in the Public Service and to cement a mutual and conducive working environment in the Public Service in general and the Civil Service in particular. I will, therefore, dwell on the following matters: My vision for Malawi;
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 The state of the economy and your contribution towards recovery; Public Service Reforms; The role of the Malawi Public Service and commitment to duty; Performance accountability; Discipline and public service integrity; Relations between a Minister and a Principal Secretary; and Fraud and Corruption.

MY VISION FOR MALAWI

My vision for Malawi is to have a Malawi where her citizens enjoy their freedom, dignity and sense of pride, and maximize their capacity to realise their social, political and economic

empowerment.

My mission is to eradicate poverty through

economic growth and wealth creation.

I would like to invite all of you to run with me to achieve this vision and mission, starting with recovering the economy.

THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS RECOVERY

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As you are all aware of the state in which our economy was when I took over the leadership of our nation in April, 2012 and the tough decisions we took to bring the economy back on track. The

country faced poor political and economic governance; shortage of fuel and foreign exchange; and an unfavourable investment climate, to mention a few. These challenges considerably reversed the gains this country had achieved in the period before the 2011/2012 fiscal year.

Under the ERP, we identified for implementation, priorities within priorities that are in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II (MGDS II), including Energy; Tourism; Agriculture; Mining; Transport Infrastructure; Information and Communication

Technology; Social Support; and Trade and Investment.

The most important players in implementing the ERP and ensuring its success are yourselves.

My administrations determination and resolute efforts for policy reforms and economic programmes that we embarked on have borne fruit and success. The country now has foreign currency; fuel is available; the donors are back; the Malawi Kwacha is gaining strength day by day; the good tobacco prices at the Auction Floors
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have brought back smiles to the farmers who are now benefitting from their sweat; small holder farmers are now growing cash crops like legumes apart from maize to generate income, among others.

For all this to happen, the Public Service has played a major role by implementing the various policy reforms and economic

development programmes that Government instituted. It is in this regard that I call upon you as leaders in your respective Ministries, Departments and institutions, to continue being proactive and hardworking in implementing your responsibilities in order to build on the gains achieved so far for the full recovery of our economy. I welcome your comments on fast tracking the recovery of our economy.

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORMS

I will in the next few months introduce some reforms as part of addressing some of the institutional and operational challenges and gaps in the Public Service. These reforms will include the following:-

(1)

Introduce a Public Service Charter which will provide guidelines for the Public Services commitment to provide the best possible standards to the people of Malawi. I will launch the Charter on 23rd June, 2013 on the

commemoration of the Africa Public Service Day. It will set out standards that the public should expect from its Public Service. It is my administrations resolve that the Malawi Public Service should offer the best services. The

introduction of the Charter will compel all ministries, departments and institutions in the Public Services to introduce service charters of their own.

(2)

Doing Business Reforms. A Unit is being established in the Office of the President and Cabinet to coordinate Doing Business Reforms. Currently, Malawi is poorly placed

globally on the doing business rankings. It has fallen to 157 ranking out of 185 economies. This has directly affected the potential to attract foreign direct investment and economic growth. Although we have developed the

Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II, the Economic Recovery Plan, and the National Export Strategy, their success would depend on creating a competitive business environment.

This Unit is being established to:6

 Spearhead Malawis Doing Business reform agenda and to mainstream the Doing Business reform agenda into the work of all ministries and agencies, and to increase public awareness of relevant achievements. Reduce Malawis ranking on the Doing Business Index from 157 in 2013 to the top 10 economies in Sub-Sahara Africa. Build Malawis productive economy through the provision of a conducive business environment and investment climate.

I would like to seek the commitment of all of you to play your role to ensure that Malawi is on the top 100 this year.

THE ROLE OF THE MALAWI PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO DUTY Section 3 of the Public Service Act defines the role and character of the Malawi Public Service which I could summarize as follows:-

(i)

aim to deliver services to the public in an efficient and effective manner;

(ii)

be the instrument for generating and maintaining public confidence in the Government;

(iii)

be impartial, independent and permanent so as to enable the public to continue to receive Government services and in order that the executive functions of the Government continue uninterrupted irrespective of which political party is in power;

(iv)

serving the Government of the day with loyalty and dedication.

(v)

aim to achieve and maintain the highest degree of integrity and proper conduct amongst the personnel at all grades.

These provisions of the Public Service Act illustrate the fundamentals of the nature of the responsibilities that are incumbent upon all Senior Government Officials and other officers serving in the Public Service. It should be recognized that as leaders, you should be exemplary and be role models to all the staff under you.

It is also important you should not lose sight of the purpose of the Public Service. The purpose of the service is to deliver excellent public services and programmes to the citizens to improve the quality of life of the majority of our people as well as ensuring the achievement of the National Development Agenda.

You should therefore internalize the purpose of the Public Service because this defines the mission and anchors every activity for public servants. As leaders of ministries, departments and

agencies, you are expected to ensure that the purpose of the Public Service is fulfilled at all times when you undertake your assignments and responsibilities. Every public servant is important towards the fulfilment of this purpose.

PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY

You are aware that my Government has introduced the Organization Performance Agreements (OPAs), whose aim is to ensure effective performance accountability of the responsibilities entrusted to you and other officials at all levels in your ministries and organizations. These Agreements are entered into by all

Principal Secretaries and Heads of agencies with the Chief Secretary, to ensure that at every stage of implementation of projects and programmes, you should account for what you embarked upon and promised to fulfil.
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The OPAs are aimed at tracking and monitoring projects and programmes that ministries and departments are undertaking and ensuring that public servants remain focused on achieving the purpose of the Public Service. I would like, therefore, to

emphasize that Principal Secretaries and Heads of Department and Agencies should recognize the importance to deliver and achieve required and expected results of their projects and programmes. You should, therefore, address the implementation challenges that are there in some ministries. I would like to express concern over the problems being experienced in implementing various development projects, and I would like to hear from you what needs to be done to sort out these problems as a matter of urgency.

I would like to point out that I expect Principal Secretaries and other Senior Government Officials to be models of excellence and to maintain high performance standards in the Public Service. You should be Number One Performers in all activities and responsibilities that your ministries are assigned. You should focus on problem solving and be able to introduce innovative strategies that will bring high performance in your ministries and departments and not to dwell on maintenance of the status quo. DISCIPLINE AND PUBLIC SERVICE INTEGRITY
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I would like to express concern over the incidences of indiscipline that occur in the Public Service. These include theft of public money, corruption, coming to work late and knocking off early. There is a general degeneration of discipline and poor commitment to work productivity among some public servants. These problems arise, in some instances, because of lack of supervision and enforcement of the laid down Public Service Regulations. Some Principal Secretaries do not make an effort to address such malpractice.

I would like to point out that the rules and regulations that govern the Malawi Public Service and those that are specific to particular agencies should at all times be enforced in order to ensure discipline. I welcome your comments on how we can restore discipline and integrity of the public service.

RELATIONS BETWEEN A MINISTER AND A PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

I would like to touch on a very important issue regarding how all Principal Secretaries and Senior Government Officials should relate and work with their Ministers as a team.

A Minister provides political leadership and policy direction of a Ministry, while a Principal Secretary manages and administers the Ministry. A Minister and a Principal Secretary are jointly
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responsible for ensuring the effective performance of their ministry. A Minister and a Principal Secretary should adopt an open and participatory management style which encourages cordial relationship and staff to perform to the best of their abilities. I would like to encourage team efforts between you and your Ministers with a unity of purpose.

FRAUD AND CORRUPTION

Principal Secretaries control enormous resources and are in charge of procurement matters. I would like to point out that I will not tolerate any corrupt and fraudulent practices among Principal Secretaries and all public officers. I welcome your views on how we can address the problem of fraud and corruption in the public service.

CONCLUSION

I would like to assure you of my support in your efficient delivery of your duties, at the same time, I will not tolerate poor performance among you. I would like us to work together

towards the unity of purpose of developing our country and fulfilling my mission for Malawi, of eradicating poverty. I now welcome your comments and views.
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