Chitipa DC promotion quashed

Government has nullified Chitipa’s acting District Commissioner’s (DC) promotion – effected during President Joyce Banda’s regime in 2013 – on grounds that there was no vacant post to which she could be promoted to.

Grace Chirwa got presidential approval to work as DC for Chitipa on October 22, 2013.

But Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Tarsizio Gowelo has nullified Chirwa’s promotion, reverting her to her initial position of Chief Administrative Officer (Grade F).

“There was no vacant post which you could be promoted to,” reads a letter to Chirwa in part. “There was no authorized establishment warrant and there was no provision for funds in the personal emoluments budget to service the post.”

There has been an ongoing tussle between Chirwa and government since the President Peter Mutharika reversed the former’s promotion.

In 2014, Mutharika’s government issued out that Chirwa be transferred to Rumphi where she would work as chief administrative officer.

But through her lawyer Jivason Kadzipatike, Chirwa sought an injunction that blocked the move.

Gowelo, through the Ministry’s principal secretary Kester Kaphaizi, defied the court order and summoned Chirwa to a discussion where she was notified of the nullification of her promotion in writing.

According to the letter, which Nyasa Times has seen, Chirwa has been informed that she with “immediate effect revert to your substantive established post of chief administrative officer (Grade F), tenable at Rumphi District.”

Rodney Simwaka, a veteran DC, Nyasa Times has learnt, will take over from Chirwa soon.