Forced leave for Lilongwe City CEO Zeleza over ‘gross negligence of duty’

Lilongwe City Council (LCC)Chief Executive Officer Moza Zeleza  has been sent on forced leave, Nyasa Times understands.

Thi comes barely months after Zeleza has also been firing his own directors who include include Director of Engineering Julius Tsogolani, Director of Finance Jeremiah Sibande, director of Planning Hilary Kamela and Director of Administration Dyton Milanzi.

Nyasa Times understands Zeleza has been forced out on leave over the construction of roads in the city which have been rated as not up to the standard.

He faces disciplinary action for gross negligence of duty.

In a letter reference number C/61/01/03 to Zeleza, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Principal Secretary Kinswell Dakamau said the ministry will commence investigations into the performance of the council, which it says was a matter of concern to the city residents.

LCC spokesperson Tamara Chafunya  could not immediately comment.

Mayor for Lilongwe, Dr. Desmond Bikoko said he has heard the matter “in the grape vine “ and could not comment until he sees the official letter.

But Zeleza has been claiming Bikoko is personally championing an agenda to have him removed from office as CEO for allegedly failing to implement the council’s resolutions.

The ministry’s spokesperson Muhlabase Mughogho confirmed the development and the appointment of Lilongwe district commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga as LCC CEO.

In 2015/16 fiscal year, LCC was allocated K1.2 billion to upgrade Senti to Chenicheni Nchiti Road covering three kilometres (km) and the contract was awarded to a company called TAAI Construction, Chilinde Parish to Napham Kawale covering 1.5 km and the contract was awarded to Plem and Area 36 to Falls via Phwetekere covering 2.7 km and the contract was awarded to Mota-Engil.

“These roads were done to bituminous surfacing which  is  a  middle  level  quality  as  opposed  to  asphalt  which  is  high quality. This middle level surface quality is said to have been chosen after the consultant objected to a chip seal surface [very low quality], which was chosen by the councillors so as to do more kilometres at a cheaper cost.

“The ministry is also of the view that your council did not professionally manage the issue of the consulting engineer to the point that he had to withdraw his services when works were still in progress,” reads in part  of the letter   Ref. LG/RD/1/2 dated April 24 2017 from the ministry’s Principal Secretary Kiswell Dakamau to LCC CEO.

Dakamau informed Zeleza on the directive of government to send him on  forced “three months leave effective 16 May 2017 pending investigations into the causes that have led to the underperformances of the city council.”