By Burnett Munthali
Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Mumba, has urged all government departments to establish and enforce institutional codes of integrity to promote transparency and accountability in public service.
Speaking during a public lecture themed “Code of Ethics in Malawi’s Construction Industry” at Comesa Hall, Mumba expressed concern that many government institutions lack clear ethical frameworks.
“All government departments must have an institutional code of integrity,” Mumba stressed, warning that ethical standards are the backbone of effective governance and service delivery.
However, he lamented that the very institutions expected to uphold these standards are often the ones breaking the law and disregarding ethical principles.
“Unfortunately, we are the ones who are in the forefront breaking the laws. Unfortunately, we are the ones who are in the forefront breaking the code of ethics,” he said.
Mumba further noted that the absence of comprehensive codes of ethics in many ministries and agencies has fueled corruption, inefficiency, and poor service delivery.
He challenged government departments to emulate organizations that prioritize ethical compliance, citing the Malawi Law Society as an example of strict adherence to professional conduct.
“Let’s learn from the Malawi Law Society. They can’t go to court to handle cases without proper registration,” Mumba observed, stressing that such rigor ensures credibility and professionalism.
The Minister also commended the Northern Region Water Board as a model institution for successfully implementing and adhering to its code of ethics, proving that public institutions can operate with integrity.
Mumba emphasized that a culture of accountability must be embedded within all levels of government operations to build public trust and accelerate Malawi’s socio-economic development.
The lecture sparked an engaging discussion among participants on strategies to institutionalize ethics across public and private sectors to combat corruption and inefficiency.
Observers argue that Mumba’s remarks highlight the urgent need for governance reforms to strengthen ethical compliance as Malawi pursues its Malawi 2063 Vision.
