President Peter Mutharika urges new ministers to act fast, warning against laziness as he sets a no-nonsense tone for his administration.
By Edwin Mauluka
President Peter Mutharika is wasting no time setting the tone for his new administration, reminding newly sworn-in ministers that Malawi’s recovery will demand urgency and discipline.
When the remaining 17 cabinet ministers and their deputies took their oaths in Lilongwe, Mutharika made it clear there would be no easing into the job.
“There’s no honeymoon for you,” he said. “I have slept as little as two hours a night. Pull up your sleeves and get to work. When I say immediately, I mean now.”
The president warned against lax work habits, urging his team to embody the efficiency and work ethic he expects from all public officials.
“From now onwards, go to your office and start work. Nobody should come to the office at 10 o’clock and leave at 2. If you do that, you know what will happen,” he said.
Mutharika reminded the new officials that public office is a responsibility, not a reward.
“Your appointment is not a reward but a call to duty. Serve with integrity, diligence, and humility. Let the interest of our nation always come before personal gain.”
Turning to the economy, Mutharika said Malawi must shift from being a consumption-based economy to one that produces and exports.
“I want Malawi to start producing and exporting seriously. That’s how we create jobs and generate forex,” he said. “You have an important role to remove any bottlenecks that could hold us back on this mission.”
Malawi continues to face acute foreign exchange shortages, which have disrupted imports of fuel, medicines, and essential goods. Calls for economic diversification have grown louder, especially after the September 16 elections that returned Mutharika to power on promises to stabilize fuel, food, and forex supplies.
The president has identified food security, fuel stability, fertilizer availability, and forex generation as his top priorities.
In a sign that his message may be sinking in, several ministers were reportedly seen arriving early for work the day after their swearing-in. Mutharika, who has vowed to reform the civil service, instructed ministers to submit monthly progress reports outlining measurable achievements.
