Chakwera faces Tonse censure over retiree appointments
President Lazarus Chakwera faces a new wave of protests from the youth section of the Tonse Alliance led government who feel the President is being unfair to them by recalling retired individuals into the public service at the expense of the loafing youth, saying it does not reflect well on ‘Tonse Philosophy’.
But Minister if Information Gospel Kazako, who is also government spokesperson, said the recalled retired individuals poses critical skills needed to revamp the public service which the youth does not have.
The Tonse youth have sent warning shots to Chakwera, urging him to stop recalling people from retirement to take up top positions in government or face the ‘unexpected’.
Writing on the Tonse Alliance Forum on social media, one of the members argued that by recalling retired people to assume key government positions such as Principal Secretaries (PS), the President is, in effect, frustrating the dream of the Tonse Alliance government to create one million jobs for the youth.
“Recalling people from retirement is fuelling unemployment situation in Malawi yet millions of youths are jobless,” he argues.
Another member has sent a voice note on the forum in which he is warning Chakwera of tougher times if he chooses to sideline the youth ‘who contributed to his ascension to the presidency’.
“It’s not that we are being greedy, but it’s only fair that the President should remember the people that walked with him during his most trying moments. I fail to understand why Chakwera could start his presidency by appointing his direct relatives leaving behind some of us who have suffered for the party since the John Tembo era.
“The MCP Headquarters was closed and we used to hold our meetings at John Tembo’s house. So, it’s very unfair for the President to start prioritizing his kinsmen while sidelining us,” he says in the voice note.
The youth have cited Sandram Maweru who retired while as Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development who has been recalled as PS at Irrigation and Blessings Chilabade PS for Human Resources Management and Development.
In June, Chakwera also recalled Zangazanga Chikhosi from retirement to be Secretary to president and Cabinet (SPC).
Governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali argued that reappointing those who retired can be demoralising to hardworking public servants.
“This would run counter to the gospel of Tonse Alliance government preached during campaign around spearheading merit-based appointments in the public service,” he said.
While political commentator Humphrey Mvula said “experience is the best teacher and you can only get this experience from the best managers who may come into civil service on short term contracts.”
On PS Maweru, some social media users claim that he retired early because the then Minister of Agriculture, Dr George Chaponda, bulldozed a Zambian Company to drill irrigation boreholes in Malawi at price double the cost of drilling a borehole by a Malawian company and he objected to this arrangement.
Apparently, Chaponda and other senior government officials in the Ministry of Agriculture made life miserable for Maweru for refusing to be used for corrupt practices.
In an attempt to save his reputation and for the sake of ethics, Maweru tendered his resignation through early retirement.
Maweru is said to be below the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Kazako said there “very few” that have been recalled from retirement.
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Kadzako is proving to be the most stupid information minister. If I may ask where did he get experience from. Youth need to be given chance as long as they are given TOR and bench marks. The reason we go to school is to learn how to apply knowledge when given work. If I may ask the retiree that you are praising started from somewhere and if people then were hiring retiree would they have the chance to learn something. This stupidity should stop. Now I understand why people say that Kadzako would pay people to write his thesis when he was attending correspondence Chanco.
Some people just like creating a mountain out of a mole, I agree with Kazako that with the mess that our country is in we need experience over age discrimination….
By the way how many youths do we have in Malawi and how many ministerial positions are their in our government?
Are you seriously telling me that if Chakwera had given all 32 ministerial positions to the youth then all young people in Malawi would have been happy that they have been employed?
MCP has rare breeds like Juliana Lunguzi (specialist in health issues) Patricia Mkanda (a highly respected specialist in administrative issues) Kusamba Dzonzi (Finance Specialist) Maurice Munthali (an abvious fitting person for Presidential Advisor on religious affairs)
Kodi zikumatani kumeneko
all agreed but not Maurice Munthali just as useless as Kadzako even worse. Rude and stupid.
Don’t lie about experience,we need people who can do things.In DPP most people were old people but what results did the youths get poverty and unemployment .I do believe this thing of experience, when you ask people to vote,you don’t ask only experience ones.Start giving opportunities to the youths please.
A Kazako pano ndiye mkupita ku kutha chilungamo mwa inu chikuchoka pango’no pango’no mumalithandiza dziko koma pano
Zikuoneka mwasekedwa pakamwa.
Politics it’s indeed dirty game.
I think the president should be left a lone because this is the team of Malawians he thinks can carry out the job of making Malawi realise its developmental vision goal and fast track it quickly. Time for sharing posts for personal prestige is long gone. These men and women will have to serve Malawi with absolute obligation to deliver on the nation’s expectation expeditiously. As we all heard the president “anyone who fails to deliver on what is expected of them, will be removed without wasting time and replaced.
Clearing the rubble is like kuswa mphanje. It needs anthu a dzitho ( hands on and experienced people, with the know how), osati ana (novices who would first need training and induction ).
Enanu chonde, sungani khosi mkanda oyera muvala posachedwapa, when all the storm calms down, and when life starts to feel normal again.
65% of the population are youths under the age of 40.majority rules.i was expecting the youth to be the driving force of this govt.it seems the president is obsess with nkhalamba.
Not only is Mr. Chakwera recalled retired people as if we are in a war crisis, he is recalling Chewas only, family members and name it. Makes me sick!!!! Koma anatembelera Malawiyo ndi katundu kuposa Lisifala ndithu.
MCP imafuna anthu okhwima nzeru..apapa kenako timva achina Makala Ngozo, Lewis Chimango, Joseph Njobvuyalemba, Situsi Nkhoma, Dzoole Mwale…akubwelela kuma udindo ammboma ena ku embassy.
On a sad note, Hon Makala Ngozo died last year incase you did not know
His Excellency Rev Dr Lazarus Chakwera is 100% correct and right by appointing the people he the Leader of the Republic of Malawi thinks are worthy and will work with him perfectly to deliver all the promises he made to the people of Malawi.
The problem with the so called youth in Malawi is that they expected TOO MUCH from His Excellency and the MCP. His Excellency did not promise you anything, what he promised was to uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and who he appoints is his own prerogative. He does not owe you anything.
This is a game of adults, not bambino’s. Smell the coffee … simunati mulira zaka five.
Izo okhee!! Kadziyelekedwani choncho. Tikumana 2025 mudzatiuzenso kuti “he does not owes us anything”, “His excellency did not promise you anaything”.
When Mutharika did the same, it Chakwera accused APM for nepotism and being old. Today Chakwera is doing the same even worse – employing his son, Nick Chakwera as Political Advisor, son-in-law Sean Kampondeni as Presidential Press Officer, his daughter-in-law as State Houses Director. He is employing CHEWAs and people from central region. Where is the CHANGE?
This is not from the Tonse as the writer has said, this is his thoughts! In the democratic country you can not fail to mention the people, I bet you, this is just propaganda from the one who is not happy with Chakwera, we are all having a say to what ever is happening under Chakwera but let’s not create fake people in your own image to destroy the leadership of Chakwera and Chilima, Watipatso ndi Wongani, i know you, you always write what is not of Malawians, since Chakwera joined Politics, you always write things against him. All am saying is that, don’t bring your thoughts and put them on the shoulders of the Tonse youths! This country was gone! It needs technocrats not just nywenywenywenywe! We don’t have Cadets in Tonse! We have the youths that respect their leadership! So to hell with your propaganda!
Uwuwu ndiye uCadet wo!!!!
Foseki
We need mature people who are honest. And able to deliver. They must also be experienced and well qualified.
Tiyeni nayoni nyenkhweyo
Just a month too much blanders.
Covid government
These retired civil servants can be engaged not as full time employees as being recalled NO. Promotions or new recruitments be the way to go. With or without recalled retired Malawians government business shall STILL MOVE ON. LACKING expertise or experience can be availed via on job training or consultation with retired Malawians or any available relevant institutions. LIFE CIVIL SERVANTS SYNDROME CAN REPEAT with THIS WAY OF THINKING that NO any other Malawian IS BETTER than CIVIL SERVANT MR OR MRS XXX. IF THE PRESIDENT DOESN’T CHANGE on THIS ISSUE OF recalling RETIRED MALAWIANS, I WILL SUPPORT YOUR PROPOSED youth DEMONSTRATIONS.
That’s A great move! Retired officials who headed Government institutions Malawians and expatriates must be recalled, just to assist recovery of the genuine government systems.Tonse thinks they are more knowledgeable.They have no good words for the elderly.Peter was being forced out they said because of his age.
But most of these people failed to perform in their time unfortunately
Kazako, what you are saying is useless, in public or civil service what you lack is just promotions, but most of jobs can be done by young PS s not ones called from retirement.
Chakwera has already started departing from the Tonse Alliance promises. I dont know what is the problem with this seat of presidency? People come in dobef BUT just give them a minute they all become drunk.
Athetsa ma board koma mpaka lero zikuwakanika kusankha ma board atsopano. Kukanika ntchito kokha kokha. Zikuwavuta chifukwa aguganizira kudzadzitsamo nkhalamba m;maboard-mo. Boma sigolosale.
Chakwera, a word of advice, pls remember three categories of people in your endeavours namely , the ones who put you in difficult times, the ones who left you in times of difficulties and the ones who helped you in times of difficulties.
Its not just about recalling retirees. Its also about the shameless nepotism and tribalism. I cry for my vote…..
My advice to Dr chakwera must learn to employ the teachers those who retired must be as teachers to young people in top offices. We cant still rely on old people plz old people need to train young ones how they were working and how they can turn those skills in morden time.
Why recall chilabade when chimota is there as PS for HR ? The work of Chilima because he once worked with him ku reform before. Chilabade is a thief who plundered SDI when he was Director. Let him rest
Hmm. While hiring only gule wamkulu from the centre as Laz seems to be doing is a dubious act, and while some of the top positions can indeed be filled by capable people within the same departments, I fail to see why this has anything to do with youth unemployment. The numbers involved here are really minuscule, compared to the huge number of the unemployed youth.
This thinking that people from the Centre are all gule wamkulu just because gulewamkulu is the common dance in the region is the graviest insult and xenophobic language! Malawi has too many traditional dances, the likes of vimbuza, likwata, tchopa etc!! And these don’t make people from where these are celebrated to be called vimbuza, likwata, tchopa people etc!!
Simply put, I for one strongly believe that some heads like that of Ngomwax are full of ‘mamina’ and too shallow so much that they don’t see the importance of co-existing with others!! Rather they are full of hate for nothing…… and can kill without reason if given chance!! Seriously speaking, I don’t think Chakwera ever indicated that he perfect and doesn’t make mistakes!! Conversely, what Chakwera does, in itself does not represent what the entire Chewa tribe does, because statistically, as an individual he is too insignificant to represent it!! Shame on you Ngomwax…….!!
I know of many civil servants at Depart of water resources and elsewhere in civil service who could be PS. Hiring retired civil servants is very demotivated.
This bad Mrs President Penaso anthunu zimakhala ngati akulodzani
Awapweteketsa ndi Corona. Those above 60 are going to stay indoors and away from crowds for some time. Please give space to those from 20-40 years. Fire those that are not performing – We want the country to move with energy like Rwanda.
The new government should replace all cadets in all departments and agencies else these cadets are getting orders from their old masters to disturbalise the new govt. Killing is one of them these peoples are mafias. We do not to treat them with gloves. Recalling people from retirement as far as they are corrupt free is not sin president should organize
Iwenso ndi mbuzi yeniyeni. This is a multiparty era. Government cannot employ ruling party stoogies only for it to perform. Cadets or whatever name you can give them are Malawians too. Unless you want to tell us that when Chakwera leaves office, he has to leave with the civil servants that served him.
What ll Kazako say about the former IG Kachama who was also recalled and is now a deputy at the State residences?
So you are agreeing with the words of Atupele then during debate of presidential candidates that you need experience to lead the country or organization a kazako more fire
A Kazako zoona mwayambanso za Dausi, za Kaliati. Politics can not transform even if u use new brooms.
I do not think the whole ministry there is no-one who can fill his boots. In fact, this story that he went to early retirement because of Chaponda should be examined properly did he report the issue to anyone. Let alone ACB or any other institution. This tendency of keeping quiet when others are looting is what has perpetuated corruption. Corruption in Ministries and Departments has been perpetuated because professional career Civil Servants have been complicit and have remained extremely rich because with each new govt they have continued holding their positions and helping themselves with each looting govt that have come. The entire Civil Service needs to be revamped by carrying out a reform exercise of aligning skills, experience and qualifications to the positions. Otherwise, continuing to re-circle the same people who have failed to bring in any meaningful change throughout the years will not take us anywhere. Give a chance to new blood with new ideas. Rather than sticking to the old.
Gospel is talking nonsense. What special skills is he talking about? These skills are acquired through work and exposure. Do not cheat us. Its appeasement at its best. We are watching and counting days.
Gospel we thought he is there to represent the youth but he is also a garbage lie his predecessor
When will this defending of the indefensible end in Malawi politics? Mr Kazako, please note that we know your boss is just a human being thus prone to making mistakes. Don’t defend the mistakes. Learn to say ” Let me consult ” or provide details of the justification. We have more experienced and educated serving officers who can implement the so called public reforms. Zangazanga Chkkhosi, Maweru and Zimpita have nothing to offer which the serving officers can not. I know even the president will just give us a sweet talk to justify this nonsense. We no longer want the sweet talk. We have had enough of it during campaign.
I have been listening to Information Minister Gospel Kazako of late and it seems he slowly is beginning to get the “Dausi disease” of defending every goverment decision . ” the ministers convoys had just a few cars, the people who have been recalled are just a few” Bwana Minister, it only takes a few people like Lutepo and Chisale and a lot of damage is caused. Sitimawina mulandu opha munthu ponena kuti “ngati poison wake anali wambiri, ndinangothiramo tameki pang’ono basi”
I do not know Maweru but if he retired early because he did not want to be part of corruption that time. Recalling back such people is not bad.Guys for any leader to succeed you need people with experience in that field especially in the 1st year otherwise if you change staff bring in all new people you can fail greatly
Kutipusika apa yayi. Retired folks are retired folks. You can not say they are the most superb as compared to any other person in Malawi. Supposing they collapse and die today, will what they were good at not be done the right way?
I agree with you.
Ukatambatamba umayangana kummawa kungakuchere.Nkhanga zona mabanga
if he retired to save his image then it’s oky to recall him, but this tendency should not continue, otherwise very soon Mr Chakwera you will be on your own
Surely an EXPERT who was actually EXCELLENT in the 90s or early 2000s CAN NO LONGER be the same now. That’s why even great players like Ronaldinho are no longer on top of their game now. Zidane can only be a coach now. Why not appoint these RETIREES as board members of para-statals? Chakwera should not let down the Tonse Alliance philosophy.