By Burnett Munthali
It’s almost laughable how parastatals in Malawi have transformed into punchlines rather than dependable public service providers. The dysfunction has reached such proportions that one wonders whether these entities are genuinely working toward their mandates or simply performing for the show.
Take MACRA, for example. Here we have a Director-General who seems to spend more time globe-trotting than addressing the urgent needs back home. The once highly anticipated vision of an “IT city” has remained a pipe dream, and the campaign slogan “Data Must Fall” has become a mockery. Data prices remain painfully high for consumers, and any promises to regulate costs have fizzled. In the face of challenges with big players like Multichoice and DZTV, it appears Mr. Daud’s ambition to provide affordable digital access to Malawians has evaporated, leaving consumers to bear the ever-rising prices.
The situation at the Blantyre Water Board is no different. Mr. Hanjahanja’s struggle to keep up with demand is all too evident. While the board may have aspirations to solve water access issues, the reality is painfully clear – reliable water service remains a distant dream for many. Malawians are left to navigate chronic shortages, and it’s safe to say that success is nowhere near overflowing from these taps.
Then, there’s MBC under the so-called “Lacoste man,” George Kasakula. One might hope for innovation from the state broadcaster, but the station has instead hit rock bottom. Stuck in an era of stagnation, it’s a sad reality for a public broadcaster that should be at the forefront of information, growth, and societal empowerment. The days of aspiration for MBC seem to have given way to an age of consistent disappointment.
MERA and NOCMA are no exceptions to this wave of underperformance. Appointments made for the sake of appearances have led to a leadership style that’s more performative than productive. Our so-called “miracle man” at MERA appears more concerned with protecting his injunctions than making meaningful progress, while the NOCMA chief seems tightly managed by external influences, leaving Malawians to pay the price of mismanagement. And the SPC’s (Secretary to the President and Cabinet) consistency in producing one blunder after another has only compounded issues, with a growing list of missteps in her portfolio.
The list goes on with ESCOM and EGENCO, entities that have spent years making empty promises about improvements to Malawi’s energy landscape. New projects, expanded services, and hopes for reliable power – these are things Malawians have been promised time and time again. Yet today, load-shedding remains as familiar as the sun rising, the impact of unfulfilled commitments acutely felt in households and businesses across the nation.
In short, it seems Malawi’s parastatals have turned incompetence into an art form. Rather than being public service institutions, they have become stages for mediocrity, each one outdoing the last in delivering nothing but excuses. It’s no longer about fulfilling a mandate – it’s about how long they can keep the act going, with ordinary Malawians left paying the price.
