Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has asked President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to immediately appoint Boards of Parastatals.

CDEDI Acting Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa said this in a statement made available to faceofmalawi.

In the statement Namiwa said the delay by the President in reconstituting Parastatal Boads may result in corruption malpractice and abuse of Public funds in the state institutions.

According to Namiwa, the delay has also ignited speculations that either there are disagreements in terms of how the Tonse Allince members will share the spoils among the nine political parties, or it is a deliberate ploy to allow for extended abuse of funds so that the blame should be heaped on the previous boards and administrations.

“It is therefore against this background that CDEDI is appealing to the State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to immediately appoint the board members for all the parastatals in order to dismiss these unknown fears and allow the public institutions to operate legally! In the same vein we would like to remind Dr. Chilima to consider providing regular updates regarding progress recorded in the public sector reforms he is championing so that it should become very easy for the general public to take stock of what their government is doing.

“It is also the CDEDI’s expectation that the parastatal boards will hire Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for these boards on merit through competitive processes. We can only expect nothing less than well qualified individuals of good repute to lead these parastatals, and in the process develop Malawi tremendously,”

Earlier this week, State House Director of Media and Executive Assistant to Chakwera, Sean Kampondeni said the President will this week appoint Boards of Directors.

Meanwhile it is not yet known as to when Chakwera will appoint Boards of Directors of Parastatals.