Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango on Tuesday conducted a familiarisation tour of departments under his ministry in Mzuzu, where staff raised a number of operational challenges affecting service delivery.
During the visit, Mhango held interface meetings with officers from the Registrar General’s Department, the Administrator General’s Office, and the State Advocate Chambers under the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Staff members openly highlighted concerns including understaffing, inadequate and outdated equipment particularly at the Registrar General’s Department and delays in confirming officers serving in non-established positions for long periods without interviews.
Responding to the concerns, Mhango acknowledged the challenges, noting that some require legislative and policy reforms as well as broader consultations.
Despite the difficulties, the Minister commended staff for their commitment and resilience in continuing to serve Malawians under tough working conditions and limited resources.
At the Administrator General’s Office, Mhango, accompanied by Solicitor General and Secretary for Justice Gertrude Hiwa, SC, praised the institution for successfully processing 143 letters of administration.
He singled out the office, led by Administrator General Kondwani Jawati, describing the achievement as a strong demonstration of professionalism and dedication to duty.
Mhango further encouraged officers across the departments to continue serving the public with efficiency, integrity, fairness, and courtesy to ensure clients receive timely and satisfactory services.
“I would like to commend you that even though you are working in tough environments, you are still delivering services to the people of Malawi. This is highly commendable,” he said.
The Minister also assured staff that the government, under President Peter Mutharika, remains committed to improving working conditions and addressing challenges affecting the justice sector.
The familiarisation tour is part of ongoing efforts to assess working environments, identify operational gaps, and explore practical solutions to improve efficiency and service delivery within justice sector institutions.
The Registrar General’s Department is responsible for the registration of businesses, marriages, births and deaths, as well as the administration of intellectual property rights.
Mhango is expected to continue his familiarisation engagements in Karonga and Chitipa.
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