Mutharika declares war on waste and corruption

President Arthur Peter Mutharika has pledged to rescue Malawi from its ongoing economic crisis and restore integrity in public service, vowing to lead a government that prioritizes discipline, accountability, and service to the people.

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Speaking during a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers and top government officials at Sanjika Palace, Mutharika said his administration’s focus will be on rebuilding the country’s economy through hard work, good governance, and a change in national mindset.

“My vision is to free Malawians from the current economic crisis and rebuild this country through discipline, governance, hard work, and fundamental change in our mindsets. I envision a government that serves the people rather than personal interests, with zero tolerance for corruption,” he warned.

The president, who recently returned to power as Malawi’s seventh head of state, said his government will pursue economic recovery anchored on transparency and efficiency across all sectors.

Mutharika emphasized that the public service must be driven by competence and integrity, warning that corrupt or lazy officials will face removal.

“If anyone is corrupt or incompetent, I will not hesitate to remove them from the service. I want a civil service that is dedicated and honest.” Mutharika warned the newly sworn-in Chief Secretary.

He also criticized what he described as a wasteful culture of “endless meetings” within government institutions, saying it slows progress and drains resources. Instead, Mutharika called for a shift toward virtual meetings and faster decision-making to improve productivity.

“Malawians are a nation of meetings, endless meetings. I want civil servants to cut short the meetings and, if possible, use virtual conferences to save time and costs.

“My government will not be listening to anybody. This is now a free country, and I will not be spying on you,” Mutharika declared.

Responding to the president’s directive, the newly appointed Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr. Justin Saidi, pledged to enforce the president’s reform agenda and instill discipline within the civil service.

“I thank His Excellency for entrusting me to lead the civil service. We will work to promote good governance across ministries, departments and agencies to ensure that each one performs its duties as mandated,

“Government wastes too much time in physical meetings. We will minimize that and use technology, including virtual meetings, to promote efficiency and productivity,” he said.

Saidi further acknowledged that some civil servants have been resistant to change but vowed to encourage adaptability and innovation in public administration.

“Change is imminent, and we must move with time. We will inspire the civil service to embrace new ideas because if we don’t change, we will be doomed. As a country, we want change, and that change is now,” he added.

George Chapatula Chaponda took the oath of office, oath of allegiance, and oath of office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Mathyola Mwanamveka was sworn in as Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, while Alfred Gangata assumed the position of Minister of State in the Office of the President.

The appointments follow the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) victory in the 2025 general election, ushering in Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika as the seventh president of the Republic of Malawi