Presidential Taskforce on Public Service Review Commends Restructuring
LILONGWE, Malawi-The Presidential Taskforce on Public Service Review has recommended restructuring the public service to ensure its efficiency, effectiveness and accountability to the public, writes Elizabeth Metera.
The recommendation comes after findings in leaked presidential report review showed the legal and regulatory framework is vague on the distinct roles of the minister and principal secretary.
Both are currently required to supervise government departments, although principal secretaries are commonly said to be chief executive officers, this is not legislated.
The report highlights that restructuring will promote a technocratic operational approach, minimizing unnecessary political interference.
"Minimizing political interference will in turn improve the professional integrity of the public service and its commitment to the achievement of the country's development goals," the report states.
Among its suggestions, the report proposes clarifying the separate functions and duties of ministers and principal secretaries as a way to minimize political interference in the work of public servants.
It recommends amending Section 93, subsection 1 of the Constitution of Malawi to delete the provision that ministers and deputy ministers shall be responsible for running government departments, as this is a management function.
"Section 96 (1) of the Constitution of Malawi needs to be amended specifically relating to the role of the ministry, to explicitly state that the minister is responsible for policy formulation and direction in consultation with the principal secretary and supervision of policy implementation by the principal secretary," the report reads.
The report further states that Section 93(1) should be amended to explicitly mention that the principal secretary shall be the chief executive officer of a ministry or department, responsible for advising the minister on policy formulation, implementation of government policies, and overall day-to-day management including human resources.
Political analyst Chimwemwe Tsitsi concurred with the report, saying clear demarcation of responsibilities between ministers and principal secretaries will enhance efficiency and accountability.
"I would recommend the need for clear demarcation of responsibilities on the leadership of the minister and PS as well as strict adherence to one's area of jurisdiction for the two and other public officers," said Tsitsi.
Tsitsi added that political interference affects public service delivery when ministers give directives contrary to stipulated public policy.