3 PSs sacked in Malawi civil service shakeup: Govt spares convicted 2
The principal secretaries (PSs) — Joseph Mwandidya, Harry Kanjwe and Wilson Moleni —have been sacked by the Tonse Alliance-led government as part of “clearing the rubble”, Nyasa Times learnt on Wednesday evening.
Mwandidya – a former top spy – was PS in the Ministry of Energy, Kanjwe was at Homeland Security and Moleni was for Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
President Lazarus Chakwera will shift around top technocrats in the civil service to inculcate a spirit of performance.
Chief Secretary to government Zangazanga Chikhosi could not immediately comment on the reasons for the sacking of the trio.
Presidential spokesperson Sean Kampondeni did not pick our calls and did not respond to messages sent on his mobile phone.
But two convicted PSs—Cliff Chiunda and Grey Nyandule-Phiri—are still serving in the civil service despite a court ruling recommending their removal.
Chiunda, a former Secretary to Treasury is in the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC), while Nyandule Phiri remains at Agriculture ministry.
The High Court on March 6 this year slapped the two with a 24-months suspended sentence for contempt of court. They were found guilty of defying an order by the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal to make a public apology for a faulty procurement and disposal of 100 tractors and 144 maize shellers–a deal popularly known as Tractorgate.
The equipment was bought in 2011 with a $50 million (about K37 billion) loan from Exim Bank of India.
In his ruling, High Court judge Charles Mkandawire observed that by disobeying the court order, the two PSs challenged the authority of the Judiciary, which is another arm of government, and the court asked the appointing authority for consideration that the two should no longer hold such high positions.
According to the ruling, what the two public officers committed was a serious breach and violation of Section 12 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.
Mkandawire argued that the law also applies to the President who can be removed from office if he violets the Constitution, adding: “If this can lead to removal of the President [from office], why not such officers?”
The judge pointed out that the two lost their moral authority to lead others and recommended to the appointing authority, through the OPC to look into the matter.
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Harry Kanjewe ana ndalama ku ADMARC kugulira nyumba ku Nyambadwe. Afufuzidwe. Ife staff ya ku ADMARC tikudziwa bwino
Joseph Mwandidya amadzimva koopsya.
Am not gonna like the DPP thieves but the problem I see with Tonse govt is that they are acting like non professionals. You some of the arrest made so far must have had reliable evidence to at least throw one of these thieves in prison with a sentence but just arresting questioning mmm zayamba kundikaikitsa . It start to seem ndizongofuna kutiphimba mmaso, and mind you the more you drag these cases the more the govt will lose)tax payers money) should the you fail to charge them. Is there someone familiar with laws up there to give direction? Is… Read more »
Mwandidya is useless cadet who used to go around nsanje boma campaigning for ADAD…. School mulibe ….
Get rid of these stupid and useless guys who didnt differentiate DPP and Malawi Gvt
Sure the guy is very useless. He was youth director for the DPP. He messed up ministry of labour
Good move. Also review all contracts that were awarded mostly to directors in ministries. These do nothing but only run around claiming allowances. Each ministry should be asked to submit names of all people on contracts and they should write a report on how they were given the job contract. Chilima wake up and remove these unneccessary liabilities that are choking the progress of deserving civil servants.
Mwadyidya was very good person and seemed professional. Chovuta is partisan and campaign for Apm in the lowershire. He was nearly beaten by people in nsanje central while distributing stuff on behalf of APM during the 2020 FPE. So smart guy yet so daft. Couldn’t read times.
Eeeeeeeeeesh. What I know is that PS are neutral people, theyu do not participate in politics. DPP chipani choipa kupweteketsa anthu nanga PS mpaka kukhala monitor wazisankho really my foot.
There is more in being a President than firing, intimidating and arresting people. Those you alienate, gang up into a school of opposition. Learn from the past,reconcile and build not petty politics. These people will derail your governing agenda when they unite in opposition.
Let them go and gang up for 30 years
Sacked or re-deployed?
Nanga Deputy Director uja amabwekera za DPP kuti ndi system pa mowa ku 23 mumuchotsa liti? Changu azikalima nandolo.
That thug should be sacked. Not fit being Deputy Director not even a civil servant, savage. Redeploy him to Mbalachanda akaphunzire kuti anthu aku Mpoto ndi a Malawinso