By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, May 9, Mana: Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, has called on young professionals in the Civil Service to uphold ethics, accountability and transparency to improve public service delivery.
Speaking on Friday in Lilongwe during the launch of Public Service Fellowship Programme, which is under Emerging Public Leaders(EPL) platform and Government of Malawi, Zamba said there is a need to invest heavily in the public service by training young people and fresh graduates on how they can work and serve Malawians with integrity.
She stated: “Previously, the focus was on those already in public service, but this programme aims to shape young individuals who are about to enter the civil service.
“Government recognises the importance of investing in youth, understanding that to perform effectively in civil services and manage public resources responsibly, they must be properly trained,” said Zamba.
Chairperson of EPL Malawi, Arthur Chibwana, said the goal for the programme is to build a strong community of public servants who will prioritise national service rather than their personal needs.
He highlighted that it is important to train and mentor young people for them to serve Malawians well and for them to change their attitudes towards working in government.
“This programme will help reduce the negative attitudes that hinder effective service delivery among young public service employees,” said Chibwana.
One of the Public Service Fellowship member, James Gwanda, said this programme has helped them to know how they can serve the community with integrity and they have learned so much about how they can work in government departments.
The first cohort of almost 35 young professionals have been assigned to various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to learn and contribute to public service leadership and governance.
The Public Service Fellowship Programme which is funded by Mastercard Foundation is also being implemented in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Kenya.
