Information Director forced out of Presidential trip
Malawi deputy Director of Information, Diana Nkhulembe Phiri had a rude awakening when she was forced to return home from President Peter Mutharika’s Malta trip after it was discovered she imposed herself on the entourage, Nyasa Times can reveal.
Mutharika left the country on Sunday 22nd November, 2015 to attend the 24th session of Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
As per procedure, Ministry of Information assign a journalist and cameraman to accompany the President, however Phiri jumped on the opportunity and abused her powers to assign herself for the trip.
Phiri according to confirmed reports, as authorizing officer, withdrew allowances and processed all papers for the trip herself without her boss and State House’s knowledge.
However, whilst in Malta government ordered her to return home when it was discovered that nobody had approved her travel but herself.
She returned home last week is expected to face more consequences for her conduct.
Nkhulembe has reportedly been pestering the Aide de Camp (ADC) to book an appointment with the First Citizen for months now but to no avail as the aide deemed her reasons to see the President not convincing enough.
Nkhulembe was married to former Education Minister, Yusuf Mwawa. Their wedding led to the downfall of the minister as he has had been accused of stealing $1 360 to fund his wedding party at the up-market Mount Soche Hotel.
Mwawa was fired, taken to court and later convicted of fraud, a sin whose sentence was a five-year prison term which was later curtailed on health grounds.
While still married to Mwawa, Nkhulembe used to work as Press Officer for former Vice President, Dr. Cassim Chilumpha.
The President led a Malawi delegation at a Commonwealth summit in Malta and proceeded to United Kingdom where he is attending and addressing a business forum.
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Pepa mbale wanga, zimachitika! Just that kuti iwe wagwidwa, kuli ambiri anebe akuchita zachinyengo nkumabera boma ndalama zambiri. So sad!!!
Yusuf mwawa apite ku court akasume.Pamenepa amuphera ufulu coz sizikugwirizana ndinkhaniyi za yusufu mwawazo
You jounalist pliz be specific!!!
So not everybody can not see the president??????
In fact, Diana is not the only culprit. Even the Director himself Bright Mollande and his other Deputy responsible for Film Unit Ndasauka also assign themselves to foreign trips meant for their junior s. More than a week ago Mollande went to Switzerand on MACRA ticket when actually the Macra bosses wanted a junior officer. Days after that trip he went to Lesotho. It is the Managing Editor for Malawi News Agency who is supposed to assign reporters to foreign presidential engagements. But the two directors have hijacked that role for their own selfish reasons. Sometimes, the Managing Editor is… Read more »
Why is Yusuf Mwawa being featured in this story?
Kulakwatu kumeneko.
This is just political witch hunting! No senior government official can travel outside the country without the knowledge or approval of the responsible Minister….. Being a presidential trip, the name was supposed to be submitted to OPC for approval. Unless, you tell me this is the same fruits of incompetence Malawi is blessed with of this current government!
Zochititsa manyazi, koms you will see she will be left Scot free, for this misconduct. Shupit.
This would never happen in Tanzania. The new President is kicking ass, love it
Poor Diana. I can’t even sympathize with such people. Umafuna uzikataniko?
This is the problem of earning top positions through political patronage,sexual favours and tribal affiliations.What Diana and her fellow topbrass colleagues is scrambling for foreign trips to do assignments which can be done by Cub Reporters.No wonder,the once vibrant department has plunged to bottomless depths.They are miserably failing to publish and circulate consistently government publication like Boma Lathu etc.They are also failing to manage manaonline. Some districts information offices are running without internet connection.The service providers pulled off plug due to non payment of bills. Worse more some officials, government departments, cabinet ministers nolonger recognize the importance of Mana reporters… Read more »