Seodi kicks out journalists at Malawi reforms conference over bad headlines: Activists say act against spirit of transparency and accountability
Journalists were thrown out of then-going sectoral conference on the implementation of Public Service Reforms Programmes at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe by Reforms chief director Seodi White claiming there has been bad headlines.
Local newspapers have been critical of the reforms, saying government claims of a success story is “not adding up”.
And White conceeded that reforms were a flop in some sectors but said they were generally on track, adding that many departments and agencies (MDA) were working day and night to ensure that President Peter Mutharika’s vision of an effective, efficient and professional public service is realised.
But following critical comments from the private owned newspapers, White ordered on Wednesday that journalists should not cover the conference and they were ordered out of Viphya Conference Hall at Capital Hotel, Lilongwe, where the meeting had been taking place.
Furious White accused the media of “negative” publicity over reforms.
But governance and human rights activists condemned the move to bar reporters from covering the conference, with Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence wondering why government is ” hiding information to Malawians.”
Social commentator Undule Mwakasungula, who has of late been having a soft spot with government on matters of human rights, also faulted the move to block journalists from covering a meeting that was called to share experiences, success stories and challenges faced in the implementation of the programme as “unfortunate.”
The reforms were moved to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) from direct supervision of Vice-President Saulos Chilima.
In its exit report released early this year, the disbanded Chilima-chaired commission observed that there is “a need for comprehensive transformation, addressing issues not only in the public service, but also the issues of ethics, values and responsibility in the whole of society.”
This woman nchisilu kwambili I remember when my aunt passed away she came to our house telling the daughter happily “you are lucky she left you a lot of money” instead of symphathysing about her friends death. Smh that’s when I knew you can’t trust anyone in this world. And talking about kicking out the reporters this clearly shows how pathetic she is. Malawi is a democratic country not a DPP gang
Unfortunately, Seodi White thinks she is beautiful,alas. GERTRUDE please ask your husband to fire this woman. She is interested in your man.
Mayi White you will always come number 99 from the VP. He is a wise and intelligent person. He had a vision and was moving towards that. When you took over everything died. No wonder people are asking for you to reform yourself before to take upon the role of reforming the government.
Chasing the journalist shows that you have no idea whatsoever regarding reforms. Reforms need strong minded people and those that have a will to change not like you.
In life is good to be criticized because that’s how you improve and move forward.
The greatest tragedy for our country is that those entrusted with responsibility to manage it are incompetent and grossly misunderstand their role in moving the country forward. These conferences are designed to counter the correct observations by pundits and commentators that reforms are on death bed. In fact the genesis of the reforms and its main objective was to blindfold Malawians and donors that government was serious with its transformation agenda. Besides this there was no energy within political and administrative leadership within government to achieve anything meaningful. And this is a big challenge for our country. We do things… Read more »
Chasing journalists is a sign that there is no reforms at all.
Government should just come out from the bush and reason together with people who are Malawians and make again Malawi the country.
This lady has demonstrated how reform has failed……Reform starts with transparency and accountability. If she has nothing to show, she should not organise a meeting with our taxes. Mai White reform yourself before you think of pushing reform agenda in Government