“Whatever the motives this is clearly a deliberate act occasioned by elements of criminality, impunity, and negligence that cannot be allowed to continue,” said Dr. Chakwera.

In his address at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, Thursday morning the President also ordered MANEB to administer fresh MSCE exams by end of January and not March 2021, describing the leakage as unacceptable.

On Wednesday, Minister of Education Agness Nyalonje told a press briefing that government will need about four months to prepare for the examinations, after announcing the cancellation.

The President has also given a number of deadlines to senior government officers to ensure they bring sanity to government operations.

“I am giving the Minister of Education one week to work with MANEB to identify and discipline either the people who did this or the officers whose negligence allowed this to happen,” he said.

He said laxity and impunity among government officials have for so long negatively affected public services.

The President has since given cabinet ministers, boards of government parastatals, and all-controlling officers until the end of this year to either promote professionalism in the public sector or leave.