New measures to increase govt effectiveness

In an effort to "instill discipline" and increase "government's effectiveness", Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika has announced that all cabinet ministers have to move to the capital, Lilongwe, a senior government official told IRIN on Thursday. "While all ministers in the past have had offices in Lilongwe, some have preferred to operate from the commercial capital, Blantyre, in the south, as it was closer to their constituencies," said Ken Lipenga, Minister of Information and Tourism. Mutharika's predecessor, Bakili Muluzi, had also preferred Blantyre, but Lipenga explained: "It makes more sense for us to operate out of Lilongwe, not only because it is the capital, but also because the parliament and all our donors are based there. The move will also help the ministers provide leadership and guidance to their respective ministries, which are all based in Lilongwe. It will also be more cost effective running one office, instead of two." Mutharika has said he intends to reduce public expenditure and will be putting mechanisms in place to control and monitor public expenditure, which he will also use to evaluate the ministers. According to the local daily newspaper, Malawi Nation, Mutharika told his 28-member cabinet during the swearing-in ceremony at the Sanjika Palace in Blantyre on Wednesday that they should limit visits to their constituencies to weekends.