Critics question VP Usi’s Public Sector Reforms progress review meetings

Vice President Michael Usi is facing criticism for initiating review meetings on Public Sector Reforms in key ministries, despite the final reform report not yet being made public.

Critics argue that without the final report, it is difficult to objectively measure the reforms’ progress or hold ministries accountable.

This week, Usi launched the review process with the Ministry of Agriculture. Among the reforms assessed were the creation of an enabling policy and regulatory environment, the transformation of agricultural production systems and commercialization, and the implementation of an Agriculture Information Management System.

The Ministries of Energy, Foreign Affairs, and Defense are scheduled for similar review sessions today, 16 April 2025.

According to Usi, the primary goal of the meetings is to identify areas needing improvement, streamline processes, and ensure that ministries are implementing the reforms they committed to.

He believes closely monitoring each ministry’s progress will help the government respond to challenges and make necessary adjustments to achieve reform goals.

However, former University of Malawi political science lecturer Ernest Thindwa has questioned the timing and effectiveness of the reviews, describing them as unproductive given that the final reform report is still pending.

“A report has not been shared. That is simply because it is not in the interest of the administration of the day. This is not about the vice president alone — it concerns the entire governance system. Our whole system is not functioning; it’s not delivering the outcomes we all want. One office can only make a difference temporarily,” Thindwa said.

Chairperson of the National Advocacy Platform (NAP), Benedicto Kondowe, also weighed in, stressing the need for transparency and access to the final report before engaging in review meetings.

“The report has not been shared. That’s because it’s not in the interest of those in power. This isn’t about the vice president — it’s about the whole governance system, which isn’t delivering the outcomes Malawians expect,” Kondowe explained.

Malawi’s public sector reforms aim to improve efficiency and effectiveness, with the late Vice President Saulos Chilima having chaired the Public Sector Reforms Commission in June 2014 to oversee their implementation.

The reforms are part of a broader effort to enhance public service delivery, building on initiatives dating back to the late 1980s and subsequent phases introduced in response to changing socio-economic and political contexts.