Politics and Public Service Human Resource Management Systems in Malawi

Abstract

The public service is the main tool governments use to implement various national development policies and deliver services. An efficient public service requires a good interface between the political and administrative leadership to ensure that polices are formulated and implemented properly. The relationship between politics and administration has been a controversial subject in public administration. This paper examines the role and impact of politics on public service human resource management systems in Malawi. How people are recruited, selected, appointed, oriented, trained, promoted rewarded or disciplined affect their commitment, motivation and productivity. While at the formal level, ministers do not have prominent role in recruitment, promotion, demotion or transfer of public servants, in practice, political interference in appointments, promotion, transfer and demotion of public servants is widely perceived in the Malawi public service. The paper concludes with optimism that if the Vice President-led system-wide public sector reform recommendations are implemented properly, some of the challenges regarding political interference in public sector human resource management will be reduced.

Yönetişim ile İnsani Gelişmişliğin Sürdürülebilirliği: Ülkelerin Nitel Karşılaştırmalı Analizi

“…Government spending on education, health, and social protection has a positive impact on the growth rate of human development (Mailassa'adah, Pudjihardjo, & Burhan, 2019). Government capacity at both national and local levels is crucial for the success of post-decentralization development (Dzimbiri, 2016). The quality of public services in different sectors, such as tourism, is important to support human development growth in the sector (Dadang, 2021).…”

Implications of Corruption on Public Administration in Malawi

“…The public sector is the primary tool that governments use to implement various national developments, and governments rely on this machinery to design, formulate and implement their policies, strategies, and programmes and to discharge all routine government functions (Dzimbiri, 2016). In Malawi, as a former British colony , the public sector was shaped by the British public service in terms of rules and regulations and governing principles which embraced the principles recommended in the Northcoate-Trevelyan Report (1853), namely, political impartiality, objectivity, integrity, accountability, confidentiality, open recruitment, and promotion on merit basis (Dzimbiri, 2016). However, the public sector in Malawi has come under scrutiny over the years regarding how public administrators execute their work, especially in delivering public services to the general population.…”

“…However, as much the Weberian theory allows for creating a functional public sector, its implementation faces challenges in many countries, including Malawi. According to studies done by Ayee (2008) in Ghana; Oyedeji (2016) in Nigeria; Mafunisa (2003) in South Africa; Dzimbiri (2016) in Malawi, including studies by ESID in Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda; it is clear that in most African states the Weberian principles face challenges of implementation. Ayee (2008) points out a culture of patronage within the public administration machinery in Africa, which has implications for public administrators.…”

The impact of Human Capital on the Public Services Performance

“…In addition, public service are considered as the major tool for governments to implement the different policies of national development and service delivery in the field of health, community development, education and transport as well as maintenance of law. An effective public service depends on the best link between the leadership of administrative and political to ensure the policy is properly implemented and formulated (Dzimbiri, 2016). Therefore, effectiveness and quality of public sector are affected by various factors, such as experience and information of staff (Wiig, 2002).…”