The day I got my journalism lecture
Is President Peter Mutharika really committed to the civil service reforms he pledged? That was the question a very unsober Kaka asked me at a very unsober gathering somewhere at a dark and noisy paradise in Nkhotakota.
My immediate and honest response, as if I were Information and Civic Education Minister Kondwani Nakhumwa, was a big ‘Yes’.
I explained how Vice President Saulos Chilima is, through reporting to his office early and knocking off late, instilling a new work culture in a civil service long defined by desertion, looting, lakeshore workshops, absenteeism and bawo.
I narrated how, since taking office, President Mutharika has, in various ways, reduced administrative costs. Quizzed how, I detailed that he has not held ‘congratulatory’ political rallies—meaning reducing internal travels. I added that he has only, using a hired private jet, flown twice outside our borders.
Still, the unsober Kaka—and many others in the unsober circle—looked pale and unconvinced.
“Look here,” I began, “let’s be fair on the Professor. He has reduced his Cabinet to 20. Do you know what that means? It means few principal secretaries [PSs], fewer directors—almost a complete restructuring that is saving our struggling treasury.”
As I was about to challenge these seemingly doubting Kakas on how our quite old president has ended the rotten culture of having party cadres in press conferences, one Kaka, looking extremely out of order, cleared his throat.
“I know you are a journalist and you have details. Fine, that’s your job; after all, that’s what you get paid for. But let me tell you. I retired in 2010 after 33 years working at Capital Hill.
“I know what is wrong there, I know what is supposed to be done and I can challenge you that nothing, from whatever you have been preaching, resembles what civil service needs,” said a gentleman who should be in his late 70s.
“What?” I retorted.
“The fundamental reason our civil service has dwindled since democracy is because it is highly politicised.”
“Politicised? What’s that?” I asked.
“Good question. Look, we have a civil service that does not reward excellence. It rewards party sympathisers….”
I chipped in before he could finish.
“Have you people read the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] manifesto? The party clearly says it will recruit, promote and fire based on merit not party allegiance,” I explained.
One Kaka, seeming angry, stood up and faced me.
“Are you really a trained journalist? You seem to be crude and basic in thinking just like illiterates whose life stops at drinking,” he said.
“Why do you say so?”
“What is merit when an Anti Corruption Bureau [ACB] director, who has not done any wrong, is removed without even consulting the Public Affairs Committee [PAC] as the law requires? What happened to laid procedures?” he began.
The other Kaka chipped in.
“And what is merit when critical government posts such as directors are given to unqualified party zealots? I am saying what is merit, when almost 90 percent of senior government posts are given to people from one region, even worse, from one tribe? Are we saying qualified people in Malawi are skewed geographically?” he said.
The elderly Kaka, the retired civil servant, too, cleared his throat.
“My journalist grandson, what is merit when a lawyer who, few months ago, was in court defending people who stole our money through cashgate, is today in court advising government on prosecuting people he was defending?
“I am saying what is merit, when a wife of a judge, sitting on Cashgate cases is made Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP]? Young man, show me merit where, for close to three months in office, you appear relentless in firing, relocating and demoting innocent civil servants without justifications. Is that merit, Mr Journalist? And you wonder why, to date, there is not Cashgate truth? Hahahahahaha…”
As the other Kaka was about to unzip his mouth, I raised my hand.
“You people appear to have invested all your energies in just critiquing appointments…..”
“Oh, yes!” interrupted the retired civil servant, “the challenge we have, as noted earlier, is that we have a system which, no matter how innovative and hardworking, you cannot rise in the civil service if you are not seen to be loyal to the party in power.”
He added: “For the 25 years I worked in the Ministry of Agriculture, I have seen young, intelligent and innovative Malawians who, despite showing their worth, could not even reach the post of a director.
“What we saw was that directors and principal secretaries were always imposed on the system—they were always alien from elsewhere. In the process, it was all frustrations on the part of other intelligent staff. We have a system that does not give the best of the country to be in critical, decision making positions.”
When the old Kaka was speaking, all the others could be seen nodding their heads. He appeared to be commanding great respect.
“So, if we are talking about civil service reforms, what needs to be done, then?” I asked, imploringly.
“If we are talking about the civil service, we are not talking about the design and structure. These are lifeless things. We are talking about people—beings with life, with hopes, with dreams and with families to manage.
“The first and most important priority then, should be managing the human resource. I don’t care if we have 40 Cabinet ministers or 100 principal secretaries or 300 directors.
“As long as these people have a history of professionalism, I don’t have a problem with it. This inspires even young ones to work hard and rise to higher positions.
“Simply put, I am saying a sitting president must, in the first place, stop encouraging frustrations in the civil service by bringing ‘their party-coloured’ people into the system.
“This practice is the reason for a failing civil service. Trust me, there is nothing fundamental, so far, that Mutharika has done to reform the civil service. We are where we have always been,” he explained.
“Really?” I asked.
They all looked at me and, again, asked: “Are you really a trained journalist? You can start fishing. It’s never too late.”
