‘Clearing the rubble’: Tobacco Commission suspends deputy CEO, director over ‘political recruitment’
Barely days after President Lazarus Chakwera called for the firing of people drafted into the public service based on political loyalty or abused office, the government machinery has rolled into action to clear the rubble with Tobacco Commission (TC) the latest to suspend the deputy chief executive office Levi Phelani to pave way for Ombudsman’s investigations into how he was recruited.
The Commission has also terminated a contract for Emily Banda Egolet who was Director of Human Resources and Administration because her recruitment did not follow procedures.
TC Chairperson Harry Mkandawire, who is also second vice president of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) led by Chakwera in the Tonse Alliance led government, has confirmed the development
Last month the Commission also terminated a contract for another deputy CEO for TC David Luka who was seconded to Chitedze Research Station.
President Chakwera said last week that those whose recruitment in the public sector did not comply with set procedures will be removed.
He said: “This [recruitment through political interference] is probably the biggest rubble we have, especially in MDAs [ministries, departments and agencies] and other governance institutions.
“That is why I have been systematically assessing the controlling officers in these places to make the necessary changes.”
The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira said the directives are were aimed at victimising innocent public servants and an opportunity to victimise those they perceive to be DPP members or sympathisers as has been the case so far.
Mustafa Hussein, a political analyst at Chancellor College—a constituent college of the University of Malawi, welcomed the President’s ‘clearing the rubble’ action with caution.
Clearing the rubble kkkkkk
Someone tell this wannabe rabii.. being president is more than firing people. Make policies and implement them
Mmene muziti muyang’ane mmbuyo achewa atadzadza paliponse nanga anavota okha
Political interference at it’s height. Vote all of them away . Aaaati top cadets, ma rubbish!
In my view the DPP is just being unreasonable and we all hoped that by this time they should have wokedn to the reality that they were always wrong in their decisions when it came to the nations unity. And Brown must know this
Ombodsmnan please don’t stop at TC. We also want the recruitment of Mtumodzi to be Director of Information in the Ministry of Information to be investigated as well.
Koma ma BOard a ku MBC ndi MACRA ndi ogona zedi. Till now they are still snoring. I guess the composition was equally wrong.
The problem is that those who are fired are replaced using the same political influence. A case in point is that of Chikumbutso Mtumodzi. We’re produres followed in recruiting him?
Clearing the Rubble of Tobacco Commission is a welcome idea most Malawians were waiting for. The story of Levi Phelani is a thorn in the flesh. It was very unfair, uncalled for and sad they way Levi Phelani was recruited. Uyuyu ndi Cadet Wamkulu weniweni. The owner of the position was mistreated and given demoted position in the Civil Service. Levi Phelani,tunder
ualified, non-performer ntchito yake kuchita za DPP basi. Let the one who deserved this position go back to TC.