Minister faults public officers over delays during surprise checks

By Arthur Kaludzu

Lilongwe, May 5, Mana: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango has faulted some public officers over delays in reporting for duty following surprise inspections conducted at key departments under his ministry.

Mhango on Tuesday visited the Administrator General and Registrar General offices in an unannounced check aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery in the justice sector.

During the visit, the Minister expressed concern that some officers were not yet at their duty stations while citizens were waiting for assistance.

“My purpose of coming was to monitor how officers in my ministry are handling their responsibilities. We cannot continue doing things casually because citizens expect us to help them,” he said.

He described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that delays in reporting for work negatively affect service delivery.

Mhango said the justice sector plays a central role in government operations and called for greater professionalism among staff.

“The whole government machinery relies on the Ministry of Justice. Do not take your job lightly,” he said, urging officers to work with urgency and commitment.

Administrator General Kondwani Jawati said the unannounced visit serves as a reminder for officers to improve discipline and efficiency in their work.

“This unannounced visit will be a wakeup call for all officers to not only be punctual and ethical but also improve our service delivery across the department,” he said.

One of the clients, Florence Mtonga from Dowa District, who has had a case at the Administrator General since 2013, commended the Minister for personally intervening to resolve her matter.

“I am grateful for the humane touch shown by the Minister of Justice by stepping in to expedite the process, considering I have been coming here for a very long time,” she said.

Mhango further urged all departments to align their operations with constitutional principles of accountability, integrity and good governance as outlined in Section 12 of the Malawi Constitution, saying improved performance is key to effective public service delivery.