Zamba Rallies Young Professionals to Lead Public Service Reform

Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, has urged new entrants into the Public Service Fellowship Programme to lead by example in transforming government service delivery through ethics, accountability, and integrity.

Speaking during the official launch of the programme, Zamba said the government is committed to nurturing a new generation of high-performing public servants.

“We are investing in the youth because we believe they are capable of managing public resources with discipline and serving Malawians with dignity,” she said.

The Public Service Fellowship Programme is a collaborative effort between the Government of Malawi and Emerging Public Leaders Malawi. It targets young professionals already working in government and equips them with specialised training to strengthen transparency, professionalism, and citizen-focused service.

Arthur Chibwana, Chairperson of Emerging Public Leaders Malawi, echoed Zamba’s sentiments, stressing the long-term goal of the initiative.

“We are building a new breed of civil servants one that prioritises national duty above personal gain,” Chibwana said.

Malawi joins other African countries Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Kenya implementing the same model. The programme, so far, has trained around 35 young officers across key ministries including Foreign Affairs, Health, and Education.

It is hoped that the initiative will gradually shift attitudes and reduce inefficiencies in Malawi’s public sector by instilling a service-oriented mindset in its youngest workforce.