By Chisomo Phiri
United Transformation Movement (UTM) president Dalitso Kabambe has vowed to end nepotism in government appointments saying that positions in his administration will be filled strictly on merit.
Speaking to 247 Malawi News, Kabambe said Malawi’s public service has long been undermined by appointments based on family ties, tribal affiliation, and personal friendships rather than qualifications and competence.
“One of Malawi’s biggest problems is appointing people based on relationships instead of ability. The result is poor service delivery.In my government, every position will go to the most qualified person with the right education, relevant experience, and a proven track record.Government is not a place for learning on the job. We are dealing with people’s lives,” he said.
The UTM leader criticised the current administration, claiming that former Vice President late Dr. Saulos Chilima who had both a degree and a master’s in economics would have been appointed Minister of Finance but the role went to a person from the insurance sector because of personal connections, and is now being handled by someone with a background in a community-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
The former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM ) Governor added that Mathews Mtumbuka, whom he contested against at a party convention, will lead UTM’s engineering and technology portfolio.
He described Mtumbuka as a highly qualified professional holding a PhD in Engineering from Oxford University, with senior leadership experience as Managing Director of Helios Towers, Director of IT at Airtel, and various international roles, including in Kenya.
“Our country is lagging behind in infrastructure and technology. Our roads are in poor condition, our systems are outdated, and without development in these areas, we cannot grow our economy.Mtumbuka has the solutions Malawians need for the next five years,” he said.
Kabambe said his appointments will prioritise competence over origin, stressing that his administration will focus on building a functional system.
“We are not coming to government to live off your taxes but to work hard and deliver results.
“By 2030, our campaign will not involve giving out free drinks or K50,000 handouts to buy votes, it will be about showing the results of our work in five years,” he said.
The UTM leader urged Malawians to vote for him and the UTM in the September 16 elections, promising a better and more functional Malawi under his leadership.
