AG Nyirenda says PAC overstepped mandate in summoning Buluma

Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda has faulted the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament for summoning former National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) acting CEO Hellen Buluma, saying the committee overstepped its mandate.

Chakaka Nyirenda said the mandate to summon the Nocma boss falls under the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament.

A Blantyre based legal commentator advised the Attorney General to watch his actions which might be deemed to be political or protecting political culprits but to remain a professional civil servant.

“Politics is for politicians. Attorney General must remain impartial just giving correct advice to avoid being caught in political cross-fire, especially now that he seem not clued up on what is being done behind his back, without his knowledge, without his input. It is a dangerous place for a civil servant,” said the prominent lawyer who asked for anonymity.

The Public Appointments Committee of Parliament summoned Buluma on Wednesday to hear issues surrounding her firing from the State run fuel company and her allegations that Secretary to the Office of President and Cabinet (SPC) Ms Colleen Zamba was interfering in her job.

But a very weak Malawi Congress Party Legal Affairs Committee chairperson Peter Dimba, says it has no intention to summon either Buluma nor Zamba over the matters surrounding Buluma’s alleged firing/resignation as NOCMA Deputy Director General.

The Lilongwe South Constituency parliamentarian, Peter Dimba said their previous interest in the matter was on the noncompliance of the Ombudsman’s determination for NOCMA Board to fire Buluma on grounds that she was illegally recruited on the position.

Dimba said now that Buluma is no longer at the helm of the country’s oil company, the committee has nothing to pursue.

The graft busting body, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it has taken up the allegations against Zamba for investigations.