Bingu told to appoint ministers with better qualifications

by Zainah Liwanda, 29 June 2006 - 05:34:09

President Bingu wa Mutharika was advised in Parliament to appoint ministers with good qualifications like he as done with new Inspector General of Police Oliver Kumbambe. The new IG holds a masters degree(MP for Mchinji South West George Zulu (MCP). The MP said those with junior certificates or Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) should not be appointed to Cabinet positions.

 In an interview yesterday, Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) executive director Rafiq Hajat said academic qualifications alone are not enough, but leadership skills and ability to perform is what is required.
He explained that Cabinet is supposed to comprise technocrats who can ably assist the President to run government efficiently.
“Cabinet is supposed to comprise a team of technocrats who can assist the President to run the country efficiently. Mere qualifications are not enough. Sometimes you can get a person who is qualified but cannot lead,” said Hajat.

 Commenting on the matter, UDF spokesperson Sam Mpasu , a former MP and speaker of Parliament, alleged that Mutharika’s Cabinet has eight ministers with no MSCE with some who cannot read “even prepared speeches”
Asked whether merit implies qualifications, Mpasu said it’s a mixture of good education, experience and competence.
Mpasu however said in his opinion, he would put MSCE as a minimum qualification for one to become parliamentarian.
During the recent consultations by the law commission on the constitutional review, some quarters of the society were proposing either degree or diploma for one to become a parliamentarian.

http://www.nationmalawi.com/articles.asp?articleID=17438

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