President Peter Mutharika yesterday urged newly-appointed Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers to protect public resources and not engage in corrupt activities.
Speaking during the swearing in of 31 Cabinet ministers at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre, the President said corruption is a serious evil against development.
He said the wheels of justice will not spare anyone found to be in conflict with the law.
“This is important in order to safeguard government’s integrity and sustain the trust that Malawians have bestowed upon us.”
Mutharika also advised the new Cabinet ministers to look for innovative methods to achieve greater efficiency and increased productivity.
He said: “This time around, I paid particular attention to our achievements and that we must take the country to the next level consistent with our national development agenda.
“Government has succeeded in achieving macro-economic stability. From this year’s budget, we are now focusing on five key priorities such as economic growth, job creation, economic empowerment, sustainable debt management, and infrastructure development.”
Mutharika further said the restructuring of some ministries has been done to ensure that critical issues are given appropriate attention.
“Irrigation and Water Department has become an independent ministry because we want to achieve food security,” he said.
In an interview, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kondwani Nankhumwa said government will continue to work with other countries and development partners.
He said: “The world is a global village and for Malawi to reach economic growth, we need to be part and parcel of this and we can’t work in isolation.”
One of the new comers Kamlepo Kalua, who is Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, promised to continue fighting corruption.
“It will be unfortunate if I will be found practising corruption. Corruption is serious evil to development and we can’t prosper if we continue doing this malpractice,” he said.
