Ntaba, Namondwe earmarked for diplomatic posts: UK, China bound
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice president Dr Hetherwick Ntaba and President Peter Mutharika’s cousin Charles Namondwe have been earmarked for diplomatic posts.
Inside sources indicate Ntaba is headed for London, former Beijing envoy Namondwe will make a return to China.
“Ntaba and Namondwe are waiting deployment in the diplomatic corps,” Foreign Affairs Ministry sources said.
The ambassador-designates will have to be approved by parliament before proceeding to their designation.
Namondwe served as State House chief of staff before president late Bingu wa Mutharika appointed him ambassador to China where he was recalled in 2012 after Joyce Banda took over power.
Meanwhile, Parliament’s Public Appointments and Assets Declaration Committee has approved former chief secretary to the Government Hawa Ndilowe as the country’s High Commissioner to Tanzania.
Committee chairperson Lingson Belekanyama confirmed that Ndilowe was interviewed and they approved her.
She was appointed by former president Joyce Banda as the country ‘s first female chief of the civil service.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dispatching recall letters to some envoys and low-ranking diplomats.
There has been widespread criticism over Malawi’s diplomatic service which has mainly been appointed based on political affiliation to parties in government.
Many have advocated for career diplomats to represent Malawi if the country is to benefit from its representation abroad through trade, among other things.
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