BAM, MCCI wants Performance Contracts in Public Service
The
business community has asked President Professor Peter Mutharika to add to public
sector reforms a term ‘Performance Contract’ to enable government track performance
of every person working in public service and hold accountable to every state enterprise
and parastatals.
The
call was made on Wednesday evening at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe during the
launch of Projects Compendium and National Dialogue on Private Sector Development
a business community interface with the president where they discussed in
camera with the President several challenges they are facing as well as outline
ways to enhance good business environment.
Speaking
before the meeting was held in camera, Bankers Association of Malawi (BAM) President
Mishek Esau said lack of provisions that force state enterprises and Parastatals
to periodically publish their performance, is a big challenge that is encouraging
poor governance of such institutions and its employees.
He
cited the Judiciary as one of the public service which is affecting Banks and
other institutions when they try to access justice.
“We
are facing slow justice system” he said “We need to improve the court system to
make the work of courts more transparent.”
Esau
said their proposed reforms on access to finance can see success if justice
system is efficient “We would like to emphasise that the success of all these
reforms also depends on the speed with which the justice system delivers judgments.
We have the problem with this area your Excellency.”
If
this is not dealt with he warned, “Our world rankings on doing business will
not move because there is logjam in the courts. Nothing is happening. And the
statistics on court cases that companies are waiting for is alarming.”
He
therefore said Banks are proposing that President Mutharika should direct that
there should be publication of judgments & injunctions delivered per judge
and proposed that this could be done per half year. He added that, there could
also be introduction of Performance contracts for judges just to ensure that
judges are working hard.
BAM
president also raised concern of poor governance in state enterprises and
parastatal, “We believe this retard public and private sector development, lack
of accountability is a major issue the result is everyone is a looser.”
“We
reiterate the introduction of performance contracts for all state enterprises
and parastatals and the publication of performance by state companies. One of
the good example is what MRA (Malawi Revenue Authority) does. MRA publishes how
well it has done in a month. So MRA is one such parastatal that is accountable
to all of us. Is it because it deals with money? We are proposing that all the
parastatals should account to all of us.” He said
“We
need to introduce service charter for ministries. Ministries should account
what they have done. We need to improve the work ethics in this country. Currently
people don’t want to work, they want money” said Essau
Speaking
on challenges affecting Private Sector by Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) Chief Executive
Officer Mr. Chancellor
Kaferapanjira also bemoaned on the same but dwelled much on administrative
delays and said must be dealt with.
“I
think every worker must be given targets and must be monitored in terms of
achievement and must deliver. For whatever they paid, there must be a value for
that kind of money. You cannot just keep people idle just coming to work
without necessarily earning the money. Whatever some of us earn we actually
proven that we have delivered the service in exchange.” said Kaferapanjira
“Thank
you your Excellency for the public sector commission and we hope that after
some time we will start seeing the results. But holding people and parastatals
accountable, I think this is extremely important. Set targets and everyone must
deliver!” he said
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