Chikuni turns down secondment to mainstream civil service, resigns

December 12, 2019 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 43 Comments

Engineer Alfonso Chikuni  who has been removed as Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) chief executive officer (CEO) and seconded to Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development as chief director responsible for irrigation and water development, has decided not to take up the post as he has resigned, Nyasa Times understands.

Chikuni:  Not going for secondment

Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara had asked Chikuni to take up the post in the mainstream civil service immediately.

But the engineer has turned down the secondment and decided to go.

“He is resigning completely. His contract is to end in March 2020 so instead of running it down, he has opted to resign,” a source at the Office of President and Cabinet told Nyasa Times.

“He is planning to take a personal sabbatical and travel around the world while exploring his next move. First stop is China where he is expecting to spend festive holidays with family,” the source added.

Chikuni could not grant an interview  on the matter.

He has been  replaced by Director of Corporate Services, Moses Mwenye  in an acting capacity.

Mwenye will have to step in and redeem LWB from the concerns of  alleged corrupt pracises in procurement of services including the way the board intends to award contract to Sawa Group including  huge debts it cannot pay.

LWB obtained  a $17 million (about K12.5 billion) loan from National Bank of Malawi (NBM) to meet some preparatory works for the K400 billion water project awarded to South Africa-based engineering firm Khato Civils, requiring it to pay NBM close to K600 million monthly.

Nonetheless, under Chikuni’s leadership,  LWB was transformed from a loss-making parastatal to a profit-making one, increased supply coverage from 69 percent in 2014 to 83.4 percent in 2018, increased number of customers and connections from 60 000 to 83 500 and increased revenue collection through enhanced strategies, innovation and building customer loyalty.

Chikuni become a second CEO from  State enterprise this month to be seconded  to Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development. The first one was Margret Roka-Mauwa who was removed as head of  Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc).

Mauwa’s removal was a direct reaction to threats of an industrial action Admarc employees made. The staff at State produce trader  also demanded the removal of director of finance Harold Mwala and company secretary James Kaphale on allegations of abuse of office and mismanagement of resources.

Roka-Mauwa was seconded to Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development as controller of agricultural extension and technical services according to a letter dated December 2 2019 signed by Muhara.

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43 replies on “Chikuni turns down secondment to mainstream civil service, resigns”

  1. On the other hand, with due respect to all commends loaded, I belive Mr Chikuni you could have been a great asset to Malawians at the IRRIGATION and Water development given your vast experience and engineering Acumen! it is human to react the way you did, but at times God allows someone to be pushed down so that their potential might shine brilliantly and benefit others……

  2. working for Ministry of Agriculture could have prove how best uR koz it involves the whole country not just a region. Now due to your corwadice uR running away.Just say the challenge there is too much for you! Period unpatriotic engineer..why can’t you feel proud of serving the whole country?with droughts in Malawi that’s where you could prove how best uR..now just get off&shut up!

    1. Are you serious? You’re mad! He served his country and apparently it was not good enough. He has been stressed because of working under the government! No he can not die working under the government let him spread his wings and die doing something he loves. You go work for the ministry!! Usati nyase

    2. Braveheart which county are u talking about??????aha Malawi??? This ungrateful country???? Fuck outta here with that bullshit if u want to serve your country go and serve don’t be putting it on other people….u go and serve

  3. Osadabdaula team skc ikutenga, paja you already meet him at his area 12 residence jst before the elections. Simbi wont let you down you have fought hard for him for the LL-SA water project

  4. This is a lesson to the unprofessional and political manner in which the Chief Secretary has chosen to handle Government Business.A whole registered and professionally qualified Engineer being seconded to the poorly managed and not so conducive environment of Ministry of Agriculture and Water, unheard of in the history of Government Business.

  5. Good move Alfonso. All the best in the next life. I have no doubt you will come back should there be a new government. You served us well.

  7. This is brilliant decision, the offer has been done politically motivated . we need people who can stand by their decisions not money. well done chikuni for your resignation. You are aman

  10. Yes I am so happy for you dad…you can’t be out here wasting your precious time on Malawians…this is the beginning of a new chapter in your life…💃🏿💃🏿😂🤪😂

  11. Congrats Alfonso and all the best. Don’t take nonsense. He comes to me as a clean man, otherwise he wouldn’t have done this if he had carcasses in this wardrobe. They did the same to Robert Hanjahanja, former CEO of Southern Region Water Board. He resigned and got an international job based in Nigeria. This dpp is total matudzi- stinks!!

  12. Chikuni is a true professional who managed to revive LWB. Ntchito zamanja ake zikumuchitila umboni. Too much political interference in parastatals is the main reason many are not performing and sinking. Why was the Salima Water Project forced upon the LWB instead of the already viable Diamphwe Project, which had already secured funds from the World Bank? Government is just looking for sacrificial lambs for the mess it deliberately created! Wophunzira ngati Chikuni satuwa pa town!

    1. ……………………….FUMWE OSAOPA ZABWINO ZIKUZA POSACHEDWAPA MUBWELERA MU MALAWI WABWINO……………………………………………………………………………

  13. The resignation is an emotional decision. If it were me, I would have waited till end March when the contract comes to an end so I receive my benefits. March is just three months away.

    2. ……………….THE BENEFITS ARE JUST PITTANCE THAN DEGRADATION AT THE NEW POSTING DESTINATION. VIVA CHIKUNI YOUR MONEY IS IN YOUR BRAIN BOX NOT THE SHIT BENEFITS.

      HAVE A BREAK FROM POLITICKING BEAUREUCRATS WHO DON’T HAVE QUALIFICATIONS YOU HAVE………………………………………..

    3. He already met the minimum required years for one to retire from government. Nde zake alandila zonse in full

  14. Well done Alfonso!! Never tolerate mediocrity and stupidity. You studied properly, unlike these clowns who are busy buying fake accolades with stolen money. Change is coming and NO ONE can stop it! Keep the evidence well! There will be lengthy jail terms for this thieving tribe.

  15. Musaiwale kuti anthu amenewa anachitaso second former CEO of Southern Region water board after he refused to make dubious payments to DPP . He went on to resign as well

  16. That’s what a sane person would do and very likely this Mkwasu man has done well. No need to be pushed to the warehouses of HR in Malawi Government

  17. Good move Chikuni. Dont give relevance to people like Muhara whose only qualification they know is Muhlakho. You have the qualifications and integrity to take you far.

  18. This is govt embarrassment for sure. If govt is run by thieves that is the remedy you perceive I rest my case.

  21. This is not a surprise. Alfonso Chikuni is from Mchinji. He was hired during the time of Joyce Banda. No wonder the replacement is Mwenye and you know when he comes from

      1. Iwe ngati ukuphunzira ku hina ndalama zake sizakuba zomwezo? Utukwane nzako ngati bambo akowa ngoyamba kuchotsedwa ntchito chifukwa chakuba?

        1. Wa shanting there’s a difference between scholarship and self sponsor…,look it up it will help you in the near future when you run your mouth

        2. Wa shanting you people act like working hard and making money is a crime…like he is not allowed to work for his money and enjoy it…if you work and then you are called okuba at the end of the day in Malawi then there’s no need to be working for you…go make money first then you can call others okuba…

    2. …………………..NDENDEULI MEANS “WHAT SHOULD I DO?”. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING HERE. HCHIKUNI IS NOT A CADET BUT INTELLEGENSIA. KAGWERE KUZITHAPHWI…………………

  24. Thats better. Most of the times when the govt uses your own enemies to fire you or to tornent you its better to throw in the towel. Let those the govt wants come in and do their part but kugwira ntchito mboma or co za boma ndi chipsyinjo zedi.

    2. Kuswa kuswa this man actually working for over 10 years ku water board so watch what you said…he worked for his money inuyo sikukudziwani maybe that’s why mwagwiya but mwanya😂😂😂😂 it is you and your whole generation that are fools

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