Achievements

There has been remarkable progress in the implementation of reforms in Ministries, Parastatals, Local Councils and Constitutional Bodies for the period 2020 to 2023. While reforms implementation by some MDAs was still at process level towards the achievement of the targeted outcomes and results, selected MDAs completed their reform areas in this period while others will carry over to the 2023 to 2025 cycle.

Notable reform milestones, among others, are as follows:

Ministries and Government Departments

  • Enactment of enabling Agriculture Policies and Acts: National Livestock Development Policy; National Fertilizer Policy; National Land Resources Policy; and the Seed Act, 2022.
  • Commercialisation of the Malawi Defence Force Engineers Battalion whereby an Engineering Construction Company has been registered with the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC).
  • Installation of New Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).
  • The Public Finance Management Act was amended and passed by Parliament on 1stApril, 2022.
  • Enhancement of agricultural production by Malawi Prison Services by cultivating 548 hectares of land for maize production with an actual harvest of 809 metric tonnes in 2021/22 season.
  • National Tourism Investment Master Plan has been developed and launched.
  • Mchinji-Mwami One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) infrastructure was completed and launched on 7th December, 2022.
  • Decentralisation of teachers’ salaries to all six Educational Divisions.
  • Establishment and implementation of Higher Education Students’ Fund.
  • Decentralisation of printing of passports to Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
  • Upgrade of the Malawi Traffic Information System (MalTIS) and has been operational at 4 centres, namely Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu.
  • Establishment of a Functional Internal Audit System to ensure compliance with the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2003 and Treasury Instructions.
  • Configuration and integration of IFMIS to all Government accounts.
  • Introduction of Registration of Births and Deaths and Issuance of Certificates.
  • Production and issuance of National Identity Card. Proof of Concept Registration started with 5,856 National ID Cards issued by October, 2016.
  • Ministry of Heath signed Memorandum of Understanding with Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM).
  • Registrar of Business introduced Malawi Business Registration System; and
  • Enabling reform legislations passed in Parliament (Malawi National Public Sector Reforms Policy, Malawi Public Sector Management Policy, Land bills, Energy, Communication bill).
  • Enactment of enabling Agriculture Policies and Acts: National Livestock Development Policy; National Fertilizer Policy; National Land Resources Policy; and the Seed Act, 2022.
  • Commercialisation of the Malawi Defence Force Engineers Battalion whereby an Engineering Construction Company has been registered with Board of Directors of the National Construction Industry Council.
  • Establishment of Teachers’ Council in July 2021 and the appointment of Teachers’ Council of Malawi Board and its institutionalisation
  • The Public Finance Management Act 2003 was amended and passed by Parliament on 1st April, 2022.
  • Enhancement of agricultural production by Prison Services by cultivating 548 hectares of land for maize production with an actual harvest of 809 metric tonnes in 2021/22 season.
  • Development of a roadmap for the implementation of Secondary Cities Programme
  • National Tourism Investment Master Plan has been developed and launched.
  • Institutionalization of National Youth Service Programme was launched on 19th July, 2022.
  • Mchinji-Mwami One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) infrastructure was completed and launched on 7th December 2022.

Parastatal Organisations

  • Greenbelt Authority (GBA) gained more than 100 percent additional land for irrigation which includes 3,000 hectares of land in Kachulu Areaunder Traditional Authority (TA) Kalonga and Bibikuluunda in Salima;Dedza, Mangochi, Karonga and Chikhwawa.
  • Online-registration and payment of examination fees is now beingundertaken for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE), Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) and Malawi SchoolCertificate of Education (MSCE) examination candidates.
  • 1MW Solar Plant at Likoma Island, 0.3MW Solar Plant at Chizumulu Island, 10MW Salima Solar PV Power Plant and 20MW Golomoti Solar Plant were commissioned.
  • The Private Sector was engaged to invest in Liquefied Petroleum Gas anda total of 52 LPG retailing sites were established and are operated by 32companies.
  • The eMadzi Water ATMs Kiosks in Low Income areas have beeninstalled by Lilongwe Water Board with a total of 35 e-Madzi Kioskscommissioned on 6th October 2021.
  • The Integrated Tax Administration System-Msonkho Online was initiated by the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the overall milestone completion rate of Msonkho Online is at 88 percent complete against 99 percent planned completion.
  • Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) has implemented e-Government Procurement (e-GP system) whereby PPDA has automated its internal system for processing applications for certificates.
  • Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Authority (NGORA) hasdeveloped Management Information System (MIS) and NGOs are able toregister and submit reports online, with the general public having free access to the NGO records through myNGO.
  • Road Fund Administration has introduced two toll plazas at Chingeni in Ntcheu which became operational on 8th November, 2021 and Kalinyeke in Dedza was opened on 14th January, 2022.
  • Toll gate and car park automation at Kamuzu International Airport has been fully implemented by ADL and has increased revenue collection.
  • TEVETA subcontracted levy collection system to MRA and actual levy income has increased.
  • Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) has managed to reduce Non-revenue water thereby improving water distribution network and revenue for the Board.
  • Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has introduction Mobile Billing Hand Held Readers and Printers to enable customers know their bills on site and in good time.
  • The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) started implementing the Standardization Quality Assurance and Metrology (SQAM) Project in January, 2016 which was inaugurated by the President in May 2023. 
  • Amendment of the Electricity Act (1994) will bring about efficiency in electricity production through the Independent Power Producers.
  • Introduction of Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) by MRA will enhance tax revenue collection through capturing non-compliant customers.
  • A Project Concept for the High-Tech University Teaching Hospital (HTUTH) including a business case was developed and submitted to a potential financier. The total land area of 387 hectares has been identified in Chileka, Blanytre.
  • Online-registration and payment of examination fees is now being undertaken for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE), Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) and Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination candidates.
  • 1MW Solar Plant at Likoma Island, 0.3MW Solar Plant at Chizumulu Island, 10MW Salima Solar PV Power Plant and 20MW Golomoti Solar Plant were commissioned.
  • The Private Sector was engaged to invest in Liquefied Petroleum Gas and a total of 52 LPG retailing sites were established and are operated by 32 companies.
  • The Integrated Tax Administration System-Msonkho Online was initiated by the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the overall milestone completion rate of Msonkho Online is at 88 percent complete against 99 percent planned completion.
  • Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) has implemented e-Government Procurement (e-GP system) whereby PPDA has automated its internal system for processing applications for certificates.
  • Promotion to access Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) Certification Services by SMEs has been done by the development of guidelines to define eligible SMEs and entitlement. MBS subsidized the initial certification fees for SMEs by 50 percent.
  • Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Authority (NGORA) has developed Management Information System (MIS) and NGOs are able to register and submit reports online, with the general public having free access to the NGO records through myNGO.
  • Lilongwe Handling Company (LIHACO) was registered for International Air Transport Association (IATA) Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) and its services accredited by end May 2022.
  • Road Fund Administration has introduced two toll plazas at Chingeni Toll Plaza which became operational on 8th November 2021 and Kalinyeke Toll Gate was opened on 14th January 2022.

Constitutional Bodies 

  • Parliament passed the two Autonomy Bills: Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2021 and Parliamentary Service Act, 2021 which made a provision for the Parliamentary Service Commission and establishment of a Parliamentary Service as outlined in the Constitution.
  • The Courts Act, 2022 was amended to provide for the following: establishment of the Financial Crimes Division of the High Court, raising the retirement age for Judges to seventy-five (75) years, abolishing Fourth Grade Magistrate Courts and enhancing the civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates.
  • Amendment of Section 42 of Corrupt Practices Act (CPA) to grant absolute powers to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to prosecute without seeking consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
  • Rolled out toll-free telephone service to 27 Police Stations across the country to enhance access to legal aid services by accused persons.
  • Bills to consolidate the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act and the Local Government Elections Act into one piece of legislation were enacted by Parliament in November, 2022.
  • The Public Audit Act (2018) was amended and enacted by Parliament in December 2022.
  • Automated Investigative and Administrative Systems developed for the Office of Ombudsman and have been installed in three of four regional offices.

District, Town, Municipal and City Councils
District, Town, Municipal and City Councils covering all the 35 councils; and most common emerging Focus Areas for Reforms in Districts councils are as follows:

a) Agriculture Productivity and Food Security:

  • M’mbelwa District Council is developing 450ha of land for irrigation at Kasangazi, Zombe, Chamukhwere, Manighasani, Chapongolera, Kachere, Umoza, Kapondero. The KasangaziIrrigation Scheme is a model irrigation scheme managed by communities.
  • Mchinji District Council identified 10.0465 hectares of land at Kawere and secured about MK48 million from the District Development Fund (DDF) for construction of 10 small fish ponds of 500m2 and a bigger fish pond of 800m2 and are under construction.
  • Chiradzulu District Council has established a District Commodity Platform with two value chains, one for Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) Kaphulira Variety and one for Sorghum, Pilira 1 Variety.

b) Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management

  • Construction and rehabilitation works for North Rukuru Dyke in Karongawith a new section of 2.5km and construction of Mlowe Dyke in Rumphiare completed.

c) Environmental Management and Waste Management

  • Hara Women’s Briquettes Business Unit in Karonga has been established to make briquettes from rice husks which is aimed at providing an alternative source of energy and reduce deforestation propelled by charcoal production.
  • Ntchisi District has managed natural regeneration of indigenous trees with 420 hectares in the forest reserves and at least 35hectares against the planned 150 hectares in customary land in T/ANthondo.

d) Financial Sustainability Reforms

  • In Blantyre City, billing using the 2021 QVR was done effective July toDecember 2021 billing cycle. Billing has moved from MK2.2 billion to MK7.2 billion per annum as the new Quinquennial Valuation Roll (QVR) will have more properties to be billed.

e) Service Delivery

  • Standardized Test in primary schools introduced by Nkhata Bay District Councilwhere the intervention has resulted in improved national performance among pupils at Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE), moving from position 23 in 2016 to position 1 in 2021.

f) Urban Planning and Development

  • Kasungu District Council is turning planned area into a Secondary Urban Housing Area with the targeted 800 plots at Chinkhoma, a layout map with 556 plots was formulated and 308 plots allocated and 12 access roads of the planned 33 have been opened.

Other Notable Reforms
Other Notable Reforms include:

  • Successfully established the One Stop Public Service Delivery Centres (OSPSDC) at Lilongwe and Mangochi post offices. Other places will follow latter. The centres are meant to enable citizens and customers have a single access point to government information and service transactions under one roof, leading to enhanced service delivery.
  • Green Belt Initiative (GBI) was turned into GBI Holdings Ltd which will improve food security, create employment and foreign exchange generation.
  • Establishment of the Malawi School of Government (MSG).
  • Review of the Public Service Act which will enforcement Meritorious Appointment.
  • Rightsizing the Public Service is underway such that Principal Secretaries were trimmed.
  • Establishment of Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances and Public Service Reforms to provide oversight function on the implementation of the reforms.
  • Establishment of the National Planning Commission (NPC) to ensure continuity of development agenda regardless of change of Government.