….each district should have a Cabinet Minister
Former Reserve Bank of Malawi Governor Dalitso Kabambe has proposed a radical transformation of the country’s governance structure, advocating for each district to have a dedicated Cabinet Minister chosen based on competence.
Kabambe, a renowned economist and former civil servant, made the proposal during a public lecture in Mzuzu, where he addressed students, civil rights activists, and residents on the topic “Inclusive and Sustainable Transformation Agenda for the North.”
“For each district to be a development hub of its own, we need to look for the best people to be the Chief Executive Officers of the districts, then put the best people to manage various sectors,” Kabambe emphasized.
“Having such people will be a starting point towards the development of the country.”
Kabambe, who served in the civil service for 24 years, expressed frustration with politicians ignoring expert advice, motivating him to join politics.
“Sometimes you get angry, you get frustrated. You advise them to do one thing, only to see them do another… and that is the reason I joined this,” he said.
He stressed the need for specialists in various fields to take up leadership positions, rather than shying away from responsibility.
Kabambe’s proposal aims to decentralize power and promote bottom-up governance, empowering districts to drive their development.
Kabambe, a renowned economist and politician, will share his vision for an inclusive and sustainable transformation agenda for the northern region of Malawi.
As former Governor of the Reserve Bank, Dr. Kabambe played a crucial role in providing strategic direction and leadership, ensuring accurate economic advice to the government, and effectively managing fuel prices to avoid inflation.
With a wealth of experience in economics and public service, Dr. Kabambe has held various positions in the Malawi Government Economic Service, including Principal Economist, Chief Economist, and Budget Director.
He also served as Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Dr. Kabambe’s academic credentials include a PhD and Master’s Degree in Development Economics from Imperial College – University of London, and a BSc Degree from the University of Malawi.
