The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has demanded President Lazarus Chakwera to reverse the decision of hiring personal Public Relations Officers (PROs) for cabinet ministers and their deputies.

According to a letter by Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zanga-zanga Chikhosi, the ministers and their deputies should be provided with PROs on contract basis and also in line with their tenure of office.

But reacting to the decision, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa said the arrangement is unnecessary, a complete duplication of duties and a waste of public resources.

“CDEDI is challenging the Tonse Alliance government to desist the temptation of pleasing everyone, because they will end up disappointing everyone. The administration should also not take Malawi as an experimental plot,” said Namiwa.

Namiwa added that the development is a well calculated scheme aiming at legitimising what he calls blatant siphoning of taxpayers’ money into the pockets of the Tonse Alliance hand clappers and bootlickers.

“It is disheartening to note that Zanga-zanga has given a node to a policy direction aimed at appeasing individuals that are well connected with the ruling elite, and mostly those in urban set-up,” said Namiwa.

Namiwa argues that records have it that Malawi is experiencing unprecedented budget deficit of about MK754 billion, a situation which is very worrisome and gives no room for extravagance of political appeasement.