Chakwera appoints new boards: Mixture of professionals and reward for patronage

September 24, 2020 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 26 Comments

President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed board members for 67 parastatals, a move that has drawn a mixture of professionals, the clergy and the governing Tonse Alliance politicians.

Innocentia Nkhoma Ottober: Appointed Nocma board member

According to a list from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) released on Tuesday, there are also some traditional leaders on the new boards.

Secretary to President and Cabinent  (SPC)  Duvelious Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi said the appointments are effective September  23, 2020.

Governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali described the new boards as “a mixed bag”.

Munthali told Nyasa Times  that it is “a  combination of competence or expertise and reward for patronage. You clearly see some respected public intellectuals and patriotic professionals making it in the Boards a thing that gives some hope and confidence.

“However, there are also some names that are there simply because of the role they played to support Tonse to win the elections. So you see both merit/competence based appointments and thank you appointments.”

Munthali said it is  good that in the new board list  there is no domination of traditional leaders being chairpersons of boards typical of  previous regime.

The board for Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA)  comprises of lawyer John Suzi Banda as chairperson with professionals as members James Chimwaza, Sam Chimang’anga, representative of Malawi Institute of Engineers and Costance Musopole.  SPC, Secretary to Treasury, Solicitor General and Controller of Statutory Corporation will be ex-officio members.

National Oil Company (Nocma) is headed by SPC. Its members include lawyer Innocencia Nkhoma Ottober, Malawi’s retired Auditor General Reckford Kampanje, former Air Malawi chief executive officer (CEO) Esther Chioko and  Feston Zambezi.

Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) is now headed by  legal minds Chokani Mhango with private practice lawyer John Gift Mwakhwawa appointed in the board as member. Other members are Justice Isaac Mtambo (retired), Lloyd Katema,  corporate executive Fredrick Changaya, Overton Mandalasi, Dr Jacob Mazalale and George Mandele.

Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) which was previously headed by Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe is now chaired by  Managing Director at Times Group, Leonard Chikadya with members who include lawyer Pempho Likongwe, Thokozani Chimkono, Lameck Ntchembe and Alexander Kalanda.

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Board (Macra) has Dr Stanely Khaila as chairperson  with members including Dr Boniface Dulani, Reverend Father Henry Saindi of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Tamanza Chidzanja, Isacc Songea and Samuel Chilembwe Malitoli.

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) chairperson is the Moderator of Nkhoma CCAP Synod, Reverend Vasco Kachipapa. Members include  Reverend Father  Jairus  Mpina, Clement Nkuya, Steven Sembereka, MCP’s former legislator Alekeni Wodala Menyani and Dr Limbikani Kamlongera.

People’s Party (PP) secretary general Ibrahim Matola  chairs the Southern Region Water Board and its members includes  Hilda Kazembe, Lawrence Bisika, engineer Steve Mwanza, Prof Cosmo Ngongondo, Samson Kawalazira, Fr Willard Kamandani, Emily Mkandawire and Senior Chief Nkoola.

Lilongwe Water Board has George Kajanga as chairperson with members  who include MCP regional chairperson for the centre Patrick Chilondola, Fr Mphatso Luzuwano, Henry Chete, Lenia Banda Bonongwe, Lingalireni Mihowa, Innocent Mphote, Alliance for Democracy (Aford) member Green Lulilo Mwamondwe and Traditional Authority Chilikumwendo.

Mafunde party president George Nnesa has been appointed chairperson of Blantyre Water Board which has members including UTM Party official Dr Ben Chidyaonga, lawyer Noel Chalamanda, academician Elias Chizimba, Ndaona Vincent Muyaya, engineer Wellington Mandowa, Dr Faides Mwale, George Macheka, MCP regional chairman for the south Peter Simbi, Webster Kaonga and Traditional Authority Makata.

Another board comprising professionals, perhaps due to its nature and scope of work, is the Malawi College of Health Sciences, which is chaired by Dr William Mfitilodze, with Paul Mekani as vice chairperson, Mphatso Kawaye, Dr Tonney Nyirenda, Happy Makala, Dr Gerald Msukwa, John Nepiyala, Phoebe Nyasulu and Dr Getrude Mwalabu  as members.

Umodzi Party president Dr John Chisi chairs Medical Council of Malawi which has professionals such as  Dr Grace Chiudzu, Dr Agness Moses, Dr Dominic Moyo, Dr Yotamu Moyo, Elled Mwenyekonde, Dr Thandie Malukomo, Dr James Mchenga, Dr Bridon M’baya, Margret Msukwa and  Dr Bertha Kamchacha Chikuse.

Roads Authority which was previously chaired by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)  politician Brown Mpinganjira is now headed by Joe Chin’gani with Byson Mpando as vice chairperson. Members include politician Ceasar Fatch, Patrick Khambadza, Evance  Kadandiyani, Lameck Msamange, Francis Gondwe, Abdul Khan and Inkosi Mbelwa V.

Lilongwe Handling Company has lawyer Gift Nankhuni as chairperson with Donata Kamwendo, Maria Chilinde, Martin Mainja, Rev Martin Mthiko, Sheikh Fahad Muhammed, Patrick Chinkhota and George Kamvulumvulu as members.

The  Cannabis Regulatory Authority has MCP politician Boniface Kadzamira as its chair where UTM Party’s Helen Chabunya is among the members.

Outspoken human rights activist Charles Kajoloweka, a fierce critic of the former president Peter Mutharika, is board member of National Youth Council which is chaired by Maness Nkhata and MCP politician Edward Chileka is among the members.

On the other hand, MCP former legislator Kusamba Dzonzi is chairing the  Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) board where another MCP member and former minister Dr Allan Chiyembekeza is among the members.

The President has also appointed  Dennis Kalekeni  to chair the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA)  and members include lawyer  Marshall  Chilenga, Rev Fletcher Kaiya  and Reverend Father  Emmanuel Chikaya.

FDH Financial Holdings Chairman Noel Nkulichi  chairs the Malawi Posts Corporation while  Prof Jack Wirima  heads the University of Malawi board. Sam Kakhobwe  chairs the Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board  and Rodrick Chingota  has been appointed  chairperson of the Sunbird Tourism Plc.

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26 replies on “Chakwera appoints new boards: Mixture of professionals and reward for patronage”

  1. APPEASEMENT IN MALAWI WILL NOT STOP, SOME PEOPLE DONT DESERVE TO BE APPOINTED AS BOARD MEMBERS. IMAGINE SOMEONE WAS WORKING FOR ESCOM GENERATION AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 2001 NKULA POWER STATION FLOODING, AND WAS ALSO THE MANAGER DURING THE WORST BLACK OUTS WE EXPERIENCED AS A NATION. HAS BEEN AWARDED AS A BOARD MEMBER AT EGENCO WHAT ADVISE IS HE GOING TO OFFER?

  2. A young brother took part in the judgement on the elections case and the elder brother is now a board chair. Some people are blessed.

  3. Nkhani ya fizi ku university za boma number 1
    Kogona ma hostel number 2
    Maganizo akhale angwilo
    The DPP siphoned monies from the government coffers which could have assisted towards alleviating the challenges our children encounter as they seek academic wisdom.
    Please as board members don’t slot in ugly ideas that rob our children of their future by ignoring the hurt that accompanies high fees for our people. The campaign pronouncements mustn’t turn into emptiness there should be a practical consolidation of words otherwise it would be locking out our children just because they are from poor families. Please soften the landing fees into the corridors of our universities. This begins with Tonse government with three meals a day plus mega farms

  4. Good people, amene akukamba za UTM, kuti ayipatsa ma position ochepa mu ma board, musapuse nawo. These are DPP cadets trying to sow a seed of discontent in UTM suppoters, a first step in destabilising the Tonse alliance. No one should lie to you kuti akuwadziwa anthu onse asankhidwawa ndi zipani zawo. Like how? Musatisokonezere chipani. Pepani zina zokamba

  6. Zikuonetselatu kuti dziko la malawi lilibe chikhulupililo mwa azimai. Ma board pafupifupi ose sitinapeleke mpata kuti azimai akhaleko ma chair. Thandizeni kuona bho bho olo ma vice ndi ochepa (tangowapaka ufa pakamwa) kkkkkk home sweet home kkkkk # aka Welesiki kkkk

    1. Nde zokanikazo
      Kumangoti eeee Azimayi eeee UTM.
      Chilimatu amasankha ndi iyenso. Mavuto, ,mbwerera zaanthu Ali ku UTM akudzidziwa bwino iyeyo. Sangadzitenge dala.Isiyeni Mizwanya igwre ntchito

      1. MALAWI OKOMERA TONSE UYU ALOMWE ASENA ATUMBUKA AYAO MMOMO IDAKAKHALA DPP TINAKANGOMVA ANANKHU AKHAOKHA NDITHU KKKKK

    1. Please people kodi kusankhana komwe tikuchokera zitithandiza?. Mesa munthu amapatsidwa udindo malingana ndi maphunziro ake?. Let us make Malawi a better country for all, regionalism will not help us at all .

  9. Out of almost 400 board members on the list, there are only 18 UTM members. Does this sound normal?

    In terms of professionalism almost 95% are good. But there are a few exceptionally bad ones picked out of nepotism/ tribalism and favoutism. Please do something Pres Chakwera. These are the sort of things that gave DPP a bad name.

    In an extreme case one of the Board Chairmen is a Diploma Holder. Really? In this day and age? With all these MSc, PhD and Professors in this country you.settle for a Diploma holder with questionable work experience???

    We know the young man is related to one senior politician. But putting him as a Board Chairman????

    1. so UTM has 18%, you have forgotten the other alliance partners, what percentage do they have? besides how many MPs is UTM contributing to the Tonse Alliance???

    2. I do not think you are correct. I know over one hundred UTM sympathizers that I personally know, on the list. If you do not know, it is wise to ask or to find out using whatever method.

    3. So you wanted UTM to have a lion’s share this is selfish type of thinking this is for Malawi not UTM if you want a lion’s share why did you fail to get more MP? For your information UTM support is here in the north and here we only love Chilima not UTM as a party if Chilima can leave UTM immediately it will lose its support here in the north, believe me

  10. Who shall shoulder the blame should these boards headed by professionals fail? In the past the excuse was that boards are held by unprofessionals. Should corporations not improve who shall we look into in the future to head our boards. It’s one thing to have professionals and a totally different thing to deliver. Examples of failures by professionals are many. There are many professional failures in this world.

    1. Very true, MIM was headed by a professional and look at the failures and have appointed as board chairperson the same failed proffessional. This is a way of killing it completely

  11. Many people think that boards are there to pay allowances to board members. No – that is very wrong. It is for members to lead the organisations

  12. Let the board members go to change the country not to fill their pockets – this is what many people for the country!

  13. There are too many priests in the Boards. Ndimava kuti they are very busy people and are in short supply. Is is a political strategy to woo their faithfuls? It appears Catholics are leading seconded by Presbyterians and then Moslems. I am unimpressed indeed

  14. Yes, this was expected. There was no way the boards could have been purely professional looking at how few are professional in Malawi. Nevertheless, this time around a dosage of Chiefs has been reduced and they have been incorporated in boards that have a bearing on their jurisdiction. They have been put in Water Boards as the environmental degradation is going on, they will be the ones leading the subjects to take of the catchment areas.

    2. The presdient need to applauded fo the release of a list of people that have been appointed in the parastatal boards. Nevtheless, when you consider the list of names, you will realise that there are nfew people from UTM maknig it on the list. Some of the notable figures in UTM in the likes of Don Kalindo, Njikho, Loveness Gondwe, Enoch Chihan etc are missing. I realise that MCP is trying to consolidate its grip on power by filling the boards with its followers, however, they should remember that they are where they aer today because others in the Tonse Alliance campaigned for them. Otherwise, we should the MCP government goodluck as it tries to edge UTM and other alliance partners out of the government inorder to prepare for 2025 elections.

      2. I stand to be corrected. Does it mean that all the professionals are not party to either MCP or UTM? Has someone asked them as to which political party leadership put their names forwards? I am sure there are so many UTM silent members on the boards. It is not right therefore to suggest that MCP has aligned more than enough of their members.

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