20 Malawi envoys refuse to leave embassies after contract expiry: Govt to strip diplomatic status
At least 20 Malawi diplomats in the country’s foreign missions have not come back home after they were recalled and government has warned that it can strip off the diplomatic status of those resisting to come home.
Most of the diplomats were recalled in 2016 but are still in the foreign missions because of their political connections to senior ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials as well as top government officials.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation officials recently told parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee that it was helpless, there was nothing it could do on the matter.
The list released by the ministry shows the list of the diplomats in Malawi missions abroad on recall but still abroad.
The name sinclude Edith Kwilirani, third secretary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and was appointed in 2006 and recalled in 2009 and Colonel Vincent Moyo, defence attache in Addis Ababa and was appointed in 2013 and recalled in 2016.
Others include; Lieutenant colonel D.G Phiri, defence attache, Beijing who was appointed in 2013 and his contract expired in 2016; Isaac Chiona, second secretary, Brasilia, appointed in 2013 and recalled in 2016.
This year government has issued a notice expiry of contracts to dozens of its diplomatic envoys, including Edward Yakobe Sawerengera at the Embassy in United States, Washington DC.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ben Botolo confirmed the development, saying the diplomats have finished their tours of duty.
Botolo has dispatched letters to Ambassador Sawerengera alongside top diplomats George Mkondiwa the Malawi High Commissioner in India, Ted Kalebe (Belgium) and Kena Mphonda (United Kingdom).
“As you are aware your employment contract of 36 months expired on 2nd May 2018,” reads a letter to Kalebe.
Another letter to Sawerengera reads: “As you are aware your employment contract of 36 months expired on 19th April 2018.”
While a letter to Mkondiwa said his contract expired on November 25 2018.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ben Botolo confirmed the development, saying the diplomats have finished their tours of duty.
Botolo has dispatched letters to Ambassador Sawerengera alongside top diplomats George Mkondiwa the Malawi High Commissioner in India, Ted Kalebe (Belgium) and Kena Mphonda (United Kingdom).
“As you are aware your employment contract of 36 months expired on 2nd May 2018,” reads a letter to Kalebe.
Another letter to Sawerengera reads: “As you are aware your employment contract of 36 months expired on 19th April 2018.”
While a letter to Mkondiwa said his contract expired on November 25 2018.
Taxpayers will continue paying salaries and allowances for the recalled diplomats as letters seen by Nyasa Times further said: “You will however, continue serving in the Mission in your current position until advised accordingly.”
Other low-ranking diplomats have also been told their contracts expired and others have recall letters.
They included Mike Mwanyula (Brussels), Patrick Mphepo (Dheli), some staff at Washington DC and some staff at London mission.
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Francis Kasaila each diplomat is aware in advance about when their contract is coming to an end and should have prepared for their departure.
Kasaila said government will be enforcing [compliance] by “stopping payment of allowances and in some cases withdrawing diplomatic status” from recalled diplomats who are yet to return home.
National Audit Office (NAO) audit has revealed that the country lost million of kwacha in public resources through fraudulent transactions in Malawi diplomatic missions abroad.
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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A nation of God-fearing thieves.
The Temptations are coming to BICC this month end.
KKKKKKK Mulira simunati. I understand pali makape ena who were promised Ambassadorial Post by Saulos Chilima and Chakwera. These are the ones crafting stupid articles like thi.
Isn’t that besides the point?
Wamvabe !
Kkkkkkkkkkkk !!!!! Munakwera ya kuphwa. I understand all diplomats who were recalled from Brussels last time are those who were celebrating when Bingu was dead and when there was a rumour about APM’s death. Mukhala choncho makape a MCP inu.
kkkkkkkk !!! Pepani olira. Mudzapita ku Embassy 2024 MCP ngati idzawine zisankho. Balimani fodya ku Mponela.
This is the biggest scum for government ACB needs to arrest who ever appointed these people for these missions.So many concubines of DPP gurus Ali abroad some with no qualifications.Just investigate those at Malawian embassy in Egypt, UK and India.Very sad
WE CAN’T COME BACK NEVER !!! JANE ANSAH MADANDO PITALA 147
TIPPEX TOLD US TO STAY —-‘
Achoke
Agrina Mussa anabwelako?? Just checking
Very ineffective and inefficient government who can not enforce anything at from simple policies etc. Yet we understand the president is a law professional. What crap. Him(the so called president) and his stupid ministers have no clue. They are just party cadres who are bringing chaos in government. Malawi requires young and energetic leadership not this kind of incompetence allover places from the Police to immigration and other ministries there ineptitude allover. They are only good at stealing tax payers money and raping women.
Get this government out as they never won the elections. They rigged the elections.
This is outrageous. How can someone whose contract expires continue receiving salaries without contract? This is pure theft of tax payers money.
Welcome to the DPP government of political appeasement and ‘official corruption’!
But the letters say they should continue serving in the missions until advised otherwise. This to me says continue to work till we tell you to come home. There is no story here. If government wanted these diplomats to cease work,it would make it known and they would stop work.
ndikugwilizana nanu……inenso pamenepo ndaonapo………..kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
????????
agripa!!!!
Its all a rotten Government.Everything in Malawi is going backwards instead of going forward..SHAME!
It is very unfortunate that Malawi Embassies and High Commissions are the places where politics rears up its ugly head. You will discover that those with no political connections are always labelled as belonging tot the opposition, especially if they happen to come from the Central Region.
The Ruling Elite have always shunned the implementation of the Career Diplomatic Service in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because it would hinder them from appointing their children, concubines and affiliates to diplomatic posts.
Many Principal Secretaries who have attempted to implement the Diplomatic Career in the Ministry have been given the boot from the Ministry.
It is very unfortunate that the politicians whose will the implementation of the Career would depend, are the ones who abuse it to their advantage. Unless there is political will to implement the career diplomatic service, it will only be empty talks for ever.
I rest my case
I totally agree with you
The other diplomats include. high commissioner to Mozambique, Frank Viyazhi,
Second Secretary, Simonn Kaunda and Ethel Nyoni, state house connected diplomat.
They are politically connected and see them not coming.
The policy of three years serving in the diplomatic service is only meant for outsiders.
We must learn to give away possessions like others leave the same possessions. For new development and fresh minds . 3 yrs contract and we expect the same contract last 10 yrs. No this thing must stop now
Stupid & inefficient government marred by insurbordinate diplomats. The whole system from top (minister) to bottom is acutely rotten and full of good thieves!!!
govt to strip. mot to strip pls if the contract is expired.
mpaka tizilipilila ma nieces ndi ma nephews ama diplomats zoona?????????
ndi momwe ukhluku umaendera pa mw pano. ena amaikidwa mma embassy kaamba ndi azizao a ma plesdent, muluzi,bingu,joisi ,pitala.olo zibwezi mwa azimaimu.
its a long story.
ku India kuliso akulu ena kutibela misonkho akutumiza na ao ku UK,US kumaphuzilo.
zautsilu ndi za malamulo athu. kodi bambo ako ,mai ako akakhala pa mipando yonona kumalandila zima salary, kodi ndiye ma locals tizilipilila cili cose???????? enatu sadziwa kuti amalandila zingati kaamba ka unaccountability ya za cuma mu bomamu. mbava zothelatu.
tiyenichulani mainawo simunamalizetu
My question is, how old are some of these guys? I remember when I had just come out of college twenty two years ago, mr kalebe was in addis working and now still working for gov, what new things can he bring to the system? Olemba zakuti munthu azipuma pa ntchito sikuti anangodzuka ayi. Govt let some of these pipo come home fast and terminate their contracts. Enafe tikagwirekoso. By the way ntchito ya ku embassy siyambiri. Kupempha basi, ndiye kupempha sapempha daily. Masiku ena ongokhala kumwa mowa momwe ma diplomats a maiko anzathu osauka kuno ku malawi amachitira.