7 DCs transferred, Minister says ‘normal’ changes 

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has once again transferred district commissioners (DCs), among them Karonga’s DC Rosemary Moyo who has weathered the storm of maladministration and has been moved to Mchinji.

Moyo will replace Ruchard Hara in Mchinji who is moving to Karonga.

Memory Kaleso of Neno is going  to replace Ali Phiri of  Chiradzulu who is going to Neno, Fred Movete from Mulanje has been transferred to Chikwawa replacing Bester Mandere who is going to Machinga replacing Reighard Chavula relocating to Mulanje district.

In a letter dated November 23, 2016 copied to the affected DCs , Ministry of Local Government and Rral Development Principal Secretary Stuart Ligomeka states: “I shall be grateful if the posting could be implemented as soon as possible. District Councils are required to enforce this posting instruction. Failure to do so will be deemed to be an act of misconduct.”

Nyasa Times understand that all the concerned DCs have been transferred because of corruption cases in their respect district and that government is doing this to protect them from the hands of the community.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa  confirmed the transfers in Parlaiment, saying they were normal.

Nankhumwa said this in Parliament when members of parliament asked him to justify some of the transfers his ministry has done.

The Minister told the House that government transfers the DCs based on their capability to develop certain district according to their area of expertise.

“The DC’s reshuffles are always there to enhance productivity, we have DCs with different capacities at a different levels and there’s nothing like corruption involvement in this , because issues of corruption are directly handled by those involved in corruption,” Nankhumwa said .

Lilongwe North East parliamentarian,Maxwell Thyolera told Parliament that he is well informed why Mchinji DC has been transfered to Karonga as it’s not what the minister said but a political one.

Nankhumwa played down political reasons of his transfer, saying like any other transfers ,Hara’s transfer is normal and done to enhance the productivity of specific district.

He also disclosed thaty  it’s not only the DCs who have been transfered  as  the ministry has also moved some directors like directors of public works , planning , procurement officers.

Indeed government is also transferring all cashgate suspects of Karonga district council that include Aaron Mbale (district forest officer) moved to  Chikangawa in Mzuzu, while other officers David Yafet (irrigation officer) is going to Salima, Walusungu Mwafulirwa (disaster officer) is going to Blantyre among the others.

However, the development has angered the Karonga district community who accused government for shielding the cashgate suspects.

Parliament raised concerns over frequent transfers of DCs, which they said have affected the continuity and implementation of development programmes.

Thyolera said tsuch transfers were affecting stability of district council leadership.

The donor-funded Kalondolondo programme, which monitors service delivery in councils, also is on record to have grumbled about the frequent transfers of DCs arguing they derail development because councils’ chiefs are given little time to effectively implement their programmes.

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