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’.

President Chakwera: Retiree appointments unpopular among youth

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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myfriend
myfriend
3 years ago

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… Read more »

Mbonga Matoga
Mbonga Matoga
3 years ago

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?

Godwin Maliseni
Godwin Maliseni
3 years ago

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

myfriend
myfriend
3 years ago

all agreed but not Maurice Munthali just as useless as Kadzako even worse. Rude and stupid.

Malawi belong to the citizens

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.

F. B.
F. B.
3 years ago

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.

GONANI
GONANI
3 years ago

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.

Melvin
Melvin
3 years ago

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.

Che
Che
3 years ago

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.

Trapence
Trapence
3 years ago

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.

Khima
Khima
3 years ago

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.

Bristol
3 years ago
Reply to  Khima

On a sad note, Hon Makala Ngozo died last year incase you did not know

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