REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

SPEECH BY
HIS EXCELLENCY PROF. ARTHUR PETER
MUTHARIKA, PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF MALAWI,
AT THE
SIGNING CEREMONY OF PERFOMANCE
CONTRACTS FOR THE MINISTRIES OF
LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT; INDUSTRY AND TRADE;
JUSTICE AND
ND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS;
AND SPORTS AND CULTURE
AT KAMUZU PALACE, LILONGWE
ON 16 JULY 2016
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 Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice

President of the Republic of Malawi, who is also
Chairperson of the Public Service Reform Commission;
Honourable Atupele Muluzi, M.P., Minister of Lands,
Housing and Urban Development;
Honourable Joseph Mwanamvekha, M.P., Minister of
Industry and Trade;
Honourable Samuel Tembenu, Minister of Justice and
Constitutional Affairs
Honourable Grace Chiumia, MP, Minister of Sports and
Culture
Dr. James Maida, Commissioner of the Public Service
Reforms Commission;
Mr.

George

Mkondiwa,

Chief

Secretary

to

the

Government;
Ms Nwazi Mthambala, Chief Director for the Public
Sector Reforms Management Department
All Principal Secretaries and Government Officials;
Members of the Press;
Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure to preside over this important ceremony

today, where the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development; the Minister of Industry and Trade; the Minister of
Justice and Constitutional Affairs; and the Minister of Sports and
Culture have signed Performance Contracts for the four ministries.
As you may recall, on 11th February, 2015, I launched the Public
Service

Reforms

Agenda

where

seven

ministries

and

one

department signed Performance Contracts for the period February,

2015 to December, 2015.
As highlighted in various fora, including giving an update in
parliament and as reported by the media, we can all agree that
there has been much progress on the reforms and that we are on
the right track to the desired state.
The fact that Malawians are talking and discussing reforms on a
daily basis, is a clear indication that there is a national consensus
that we need to change the way we have conducted business in this
country.
Therefore, it is more befitting and proper that more ministries
should join in the reforms agenda. I am, therefore, proud that once
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again today we have witnessed the signing of the Performance

Contracts by these four ministries.
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has
committed itself to undertake three reform areas namely: Policy
and Legal reforms; Administrative reforms and Institutional reforms.
Through these reforms that the Ministry of Lands, Housing and
Urban Development will be implementing, I want the ministry to
be able to create an enabling environment for efficient, effective
and sustainable provision of land, housing and urban development
services to the general public.
The public has entrusted this administration to govern and produce
results and they are waiting for us to deliver. We have no excuse
but to deliver to the people because thats what they expect from
us.
Through the commitment to reform you have made today, the
people of Malawi expect improved access to land and security of
land tenure for socio-economic development.

Our people will also expect improved delivery of building services,

increased access to affordable, safe and secure houses with
particular focus on low income and vulnerable groups.
These are some of the things that Honourable Minister you have
signed for and promised the people of Malawi and me. We expect
nothing but implementation and delivery.
Similarly, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the public expects you
to create an enabling and competitive environment for private
sector development, among your many promises under this
agreement.
These reforms in your ministry, Honourable Minister, should
empower Malawians to participate in economic activities; and help
to expand domestic and international market share for Malawian
products and services.
As you have promised in the contract, my interest is also to see
these reforms promote growth and diversification of exports as
well as to increase industrial productivity and competitiveness.
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, on its part, has
committed to embark on reforms that will help promote the rule of
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law through the provision of professional legal services in a

transparent and accountable manner in order to ensure a just, fair
and democratic society.
And as expected, your role as a Minister is to provide political
oversight and policy direction in the Ministry to ensure that
strategic objectives and outcomes of the reform areas within your
ministry are achieved within specified timeframes.
I am glad that some of the reforms have already taken shape
because it was two weeks ago that the Vice President launched the
two reforms outcomes from your ministry.
In particular, I am delighted that the on-line Malawi Business
Registration System (MBRS) of companies and businesses is now
implemented. And I am looking forward to more achievements.
This initiative will improve the business environment in Malawi by
making it easier for people to register businesses and companies
online without having to physically visit the Registrar Generals
office thereby saving both time and resources.
Turning to you, the Minister of Sports and Culture, you too are
expected to offer political leadership and direction to ensure that
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the reforms agenda you have committed to pursue today should

materialize and help improve the welfare of the people of this
country.
I look forward to the ministry to revise management structure for
sports in the country, improve planning, implementation and
coordination of sports programs in the country as well as
establishing an incentive and Welfare Programme for Sports
Persons, among other reform areas.
Mr. Vice President, Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen
The absence of such a national incentive and welfare program has
resulted in lack of motivation on the part of our sports men and
women in this country.
In view of this, the Ministrys reform initiative to introduce an
incentive and welfare programme for sports persons will improve
the economic status and welfare of sports persons thereby leading
to improved motivation and performance of sports persons.
I am also happy that one of the reform areas in your ministry is the
devolution of some cultural functions to local councils so that we
promote implementation of cultural programmes at grassroots
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level. Furthermore, devolution of cultural functions is in line with

the decentralisation policy which seeks to devolve not only key
functions but also their associated resources.
I know the work ahead is tough to ensure implementation but rest
assured that my government will give you the necessary support to
ensure that we reform for the betterment of this country.
Therefore, as four new ministers joining this reform journey, I wish
to congratulate you and encourage you to provide sound political
leadership to make these reforms work in your respective ministries.
However, let me warn you that signing and implementing are two
different things. I want results just like the pioneer ministries have
demonstrated. Underperformance will not be tolerated.
Allow me to remind you what I said when I launched the reforms
Agenda on 11th February:

The signing of these Performance Contracts will be between me

and the Ministers. And to put it straight and clear, the system will
be our way of doing business so that we know what results to
expect and also be able to know which Ministers and ministries are
performing to the expectation and delight of Malawians. This
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approach will extend to the entire executive and cascade to the

Public Service as a whole. Days of doing business as usual are long
gone! End of quote.
In conclusion, Honourable Ministers and your teams, I urge you
once again to provide the required political leadership and
spearhead the implementation of the reform areas which you have
signed for today.
Similarly, I appeal to all the public officials in these four ministries
to work with zeal so that the set targets in these Performance
Contracts are achieved by the set dates.
Lastly, it is pleasing to note that under the guidance of the Right
Honourable Vice President, who is the Chairperson of the Public
Service Reform Commission, there has been commendable progress
by the pioneer ministries. The same success story is what we expect
from the four ministries that have signed contracts today.
Mr. Vice President, I also urge you to produce the same results with
parastatal organisations.
Finally, allow me to reiterate that it is my governments quest to
achieve optimal efficiency in the delivery of services to the general
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public. I remain resolute that reforms, this time have to be

implemented. I place the highest priority in the public service
reform agenda. Together let us join hands in Making Malawi
Work
May God bless us all and Mother Malawi. I thank you for your
attention.

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