Malawi’s President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, has called upon Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to adopt the recently launched National Action Plan on open governance. Speaking at the launch of the plan at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC), President Chakwera emphasized the importance of implementing the plan rather than just launching it.
The President expressed his expectation that MDAs would fully embrace the Open Government Partnership (OGP) system. He urged all public institutions to take OGP membership seriously and join in the pursuit of the reform agenda. President Chakwera highlighted that Malawi is only the second country in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to have an action plan for reforms and accountability that qualifies for OGP membership. He sees this membership as a significant step towards his ultimate goal of making Malawi a Global Center of Excellence in Good Governance.
President Chakwera also addressed the media, calling on them to pay closer attention to details. He referred to a recent headline questioning his commitment to the reform agenda and emphasized that his administration has been quietly working on advancing the reform agenda. He clarified that the Reforms Report, which he received from the Vice President, was not meant for public entertainment or debates but as a reference document for his direct engagements with public institutions.
Regarding the National Action Plan (NAP) and Open Government Partnership, President Chakwera expressed his delight that Malawi is the second country to have such a working document. He emphasized the importance of the initiative in showcasing his administration’s commitment to open governance and democratic principles. The President noted that monitoring government performance enhances service delivery to citizens and aligns with Malawi’s development blueprint, Malawi Vision 2063, which emphasizes transparency as a fundamental aspect of sustainable and inclusive development.
