By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, May 12, Mana: The Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, has emphasized the importance of ethics, accountability, and transparency in the civil service.

Speaking at the launch of the Public Service Fellowship Programme in Lilongwe on Monday, Zamba highlighted the need to invest in young professionals and fresh graduates to ensure they serve Malawians with integrity.

She further explained that the Public Service Fellowship Programme, under the Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) platform and Government of Malawi, aims to shape young individuals who are about to enter the civil service.

“We aim to promote integrity by training young professionals to serve with integrity and uphold ethics in public service while focusing on the next generation of leaders.

“We will further encourage accountability and transparency in government departments and agencies by developing a community of public servants who prioritize national service over personal needs,” explained Zamba.

The programme is a collaborative effort between the Government of Malawi and the Mastercard Foundation, which is also implementing similar initiatives in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Kenya.

 “The first cohort of almost 35 young professionals has been assigned to various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to learn and contribute to public service leadership and governance,” she said.

One of the Public Service Fellowship members, James Gwanda, expressed gratitude for the programme, stating that it has helped them understand how to serve the community with integrity and work effectively in government departments.

By empowering young professionals, the programme aims to improve public service delivery and promote good governance in Malawi.