LILONGWE--Chief Secretary to the Government, Bright Msaka, has refuted accusations made against Pres Joyce Banda that she was criticizing the civil service as being ineffective and inefficient.

Speaking during a meeting for Principal Secretaries in the Office of the President and Cabinet Conference Room in Lilongwe, Msaka said Pre Joyce Banda didn’t say that, rather, she only asked civil servants to work and support her administration.

“The president was rallying us, her troops, to run with her. To embrace her vision and not to drag our feet,” Bright Msaka
“The president was rallying us, her troops, to run with her. To embrace her vision and not to drag our feet,” Msaka said.

He said civil servants in this country are hardworking, committed, and patriotic and dedicated to their work.
He said taking into consideration the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index, Malawi is moving up compared to neighboring countries.

“This is a sign of progress. And that progress has happened on the shoulders of this Civil Service,” he said.
Msaka however said anything that’s good, can be made better.

Msaka further urged the public service to view the change of government as an opportunity to raise the bar of excellence in serving the nation.

“We must quickly re-orient ourselves to the new vision, the fresh agenda, the quickened pace and the new modus operandi.”

He said the public service is the only tool that this nation has for the realization of hope and heightened expectation among people.

Pres Banda came to power following the death of Pres Bingu wa Mutharika in April. There were some who wanted to circumvent the constitution and install Mutharika’s younger brother, Peter, endorsed by the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as his successor.

Banda, who was vice president, didn’t belong to the DPP after the party sacked her in December 2010 over the issue of Peter taking over from his brother at the expiry of his term in 2014.

After she was inaugurated president, Banda put together a cabinet that has all members represented in cabinet including DPP. She has also fired some Mutharika loyalists which apparently, as expected, hasn’t gone down well with them.

Observers point that that while the president is rallying her troops as explained by Msaka, she was also sending a message to those bent on frustrating her agenda.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment.