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 deliverservices. An efficient public service requires a good interface between the political and administrative leadership toensure that polices are formulated and implemented properly. The relationship between politics and administrationhas been a controversial subject in public administration. This paper examines the role and impact of politics onpublic 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 atthe formal level, ministers do not have prominent role in recruitment, promotion, demotion or transfer of publicservants, in practice, political interference in appointments, promotion, transfer and demotion of public servants iswidely perceived in the Malawi public service. The paper concludes with optimism that if the Vice President-ledsystem-wide public sector reform recommendations are implemented properly, some of the challenges regardingpolitical interference in public sector human resource management will be reduced.