First Lady behind firing of State House staff

It has emerged that Malawi First Lady Gertrude Mutharika’s special aide Philomina Kasambwe was fired after she  allegedly misappropriated K100,000 for the First Couple.

Sources, privy to the matter, also claimed that the decision to have Kasambwe booted out in less than six months of her employment, was influenced by the First Lady.

Kasambwe once served as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu Central.

However, State House Chief of Staff Peter Mukhito claimed that Kasambwe will not be jobless as she will be redeployed to other duties within the civil service.

He hinted that Kasambwe’s next assignment is at the Airport Development Limited.

According to inside sources, others likely to be shown the exit door from the State Residences include Robert Mainala, Charles Muhamba, Bycole Chigule and Michael Lisando.

“Most of occurrences are being influenced by the madam, she is quiet koma ndi wamangawa heavy.

“Gloria Maseko was about to be booted out after the death of her husband (Lawrence Maseko) just because she was one of the old staff that were there before this administration, but she only rescinded her decision after some senior officials objected her decision,” said one of the sources.

Another inside source further disclosed that the First Lady also influenced the firing of Moses Stephano after “realising that he was a son of certain man who was in bad books with the madam before she became the First Lady”.

Other old State Residences staff, according to sources, that will be booted out following First Lady’s recommendation are White Kamwela, Henry Magawa ( all were hired in 2010); Martha Njiratenga (2009), Jessy Nthundu(2011), Aida Mwachande (2011), Aida Masiyano(2011), Joseph Fabiano (1992), Ronald Ng’ambi(1992),  Christina Chilinga (2011) and Mabvuto Wamtenga (2011).

Efforts to get hold of Mukhito on these latest claims proved futile as his mobile could not be reached.