Chief Secretary to the Government, Justin Saidi, has advised Cabinet Ministers and other Public Officers to comply with strict government expenditure controls to save public resources.
According to Saidi, the government will fully implement all required measures to ensure that public resources are always used for their intended purposes for the benefit of the citizenry.
Saidi made the remarks on Sunday during the swearing-in of Cabinet Ministers and their Deputies in Lilongwe.
“Before undertaking foreign and domestic travel, ministers and their deputies would be required to seek approval from the President as well as indicate reasons for such travel,” he said.
Governance expert Philip Chilongo hailed the move, saying guidelines regarding local and foreign travels by members of the cabinet and Public Officers have been in existence, but the problem has been enforcement.
“The guidelines highlight several austerity measures, including limiting foreign travel to three trips per calendar year except in special cases. If these are adhered to, the country can save a lot of resources,” Chilongo said.
Since President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika reclaimed power, he has vowed to decisively deal with the wastage of public resources meant for national development.
To walk-the-talk on austerity measures, President Mutharika is currently running the affairs of the government with a lean cabinet of 24, including the Vice President and the Second Vice President.
As the dust after the elections is settling, expectations among Malawians are high on the performance of the cabinet in line with President Mutharika’s agenda of immediately finding solutions to the country’s social and economic woes, with a focus on food, fuel, foreign currency, fertilizer, and medicines.
By Chisomo Break
