President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera Friday spoke tough on leaders in Parastatal Boards who abuse of their offices, a case of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) trip to Dubai warning that positions are not a license for wanton wastefulness.

He made the remarks in Lilongwe at the launch of the Malawi National Fibre Backbone Project by Huawei Technologies Limited.

Chakwera said development partners work hard and smart to help the country build new Malawi of digital transformation and the last thing the nation needs to do was to be caught wasting precious resources that are critical for regulating the ICT industry and other developmental activities.

“I was dismayed therefore, Minister Kazako by your report of the wasteful spending happening at MACRA that the Board could not find a more cost-effective way of enhancing the capacity of Board members than taking them to Dubai and blowing millions.”

“All of us who have been given a chance to lead whether in the presidency, or in cabinet, or in MDAs, or in boards, or in Embassies need to behave as though we understand that Malawians have given us this chance to lead so that we can serve them.

So as far as I am concerned, if you are anywhere in my administrations to serve yourself you need to get out of the way,” Chakwera hinted.

He said it was a clear sign that the leadership of MACRA board needs to change immediately.

Vice President of Huawei Ltd in Southern Africa Region, Liao Yong said the project was expected to connect 29 cities and cover more than 100,000 businesses and homes deepening connectivity and closing the last mile gap in major cities.