Standard Bank of Malawi boss’s gaffe on ‘rigging 2014 polls’ raises eyebrows
A seemingly innocent joke by Standard Bank of Malawi CEO Charles Mudiwa, a Zimbabwean national has opened a Pandora Box leaving his employers in South Africa no choice but to transfer him to Zambia.
Mudiwa , is said to have moved in with President Joyce Banda’s daughter, Susan.
Mudiwa, in a key note address at the occasion of the opening of Mlambe Suite at Standard Bank Head Office in Lilongwe, joked that Electoral Commissioner Nancy Tembo, had “rigged” for the bank to have a lot of guests at the function and encouraged her to do the same come 2014.
“I thank you for rigging to have a lot of guests this evening. I know you will do the same next year in 2014 elections,” said Mudiwa.
The remarks by Mudiwa have not gone down well in some quarters, who have since reported him to his bosses in South Africa for “involvement” with partisan politics in Malawi – something not at all in line with the bank’s policy.
These careless remarks, against the public knowledge in Lilongwe socialites that Mudiwa is cohabiting with Susan Banda, the step daughter of President Joyce Banda are not exactly what is on the brief of the Standard Bank’s CEO.
Susan Banda works as one of the top bosses at Millenium Challenge Account (MCA) Malawi. Recently Standard Bank won a contract to handle the K53 billion meant for Malawi’s electricity rehabilitation ith funds from the United States of America.
According to Standard Bank sources, the bosses in South Africa did not find anything amusing with the “rigging” joke.
Locally, the “rigging” joke has set rumours flying with people reading between the lines vis-a-vis Mrs Nancy Tembo’s appointment as an Electoral Commissioner and her relationship to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president John Tembo; which has left analysts betting on a possible electoral alliance with President J Banda and her Peoples Party; in the unlikely event that the veteran politician weathers the challenge of the other MCP presidential aspirants.
To put icing on the cake and clear all doubts as to the feasibility of this bizarre trinity; Mudiwa recently promoted Nancy Tembo’s son, Ronald Tembo, to the post of Head of Banking at Standard Bank.
