List of recycled diplomats and cronies to serve Malawi in foreign embassies

Malawi is seeing diplomats being recalled with postings of the same people who failed to deliver in past administrations but yet enjoying the fruits of favouritism and nepotism, according to a list sourced by Nyasa Times.

Jospeh Chikwemba:  Proposed to go to Belgium of Switzerland  as a diplomat

Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomat deployment committee which consisted of Veronica Chidothe (Director of Administration and Finance), Ernest Makawa (Director of Legal Affairs) and Francis Mponda (Director of Political Affairs) among others has submitted names to be posted and has already posted others.

The list of names which has been recommended and submitted to President Lazarus Chakwera’s office for approval has recycled diplomats who have previously served in Bakili Muluzi, Bingu wa Mutharika, Joyce Banda and Peter Mutharika administrations.

Chidothe ,who retired in March this year,  has now been posted as the acting High Commissioner to Maputo, Mozambique. Prior to this she served for over 15 year’s in the diplomatic service at Malawi’s missions to the United Kingdom; South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Makawa, who once served as the Ambassador to China, has requested to be posted to New York as Malawi’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

Mponda had previously spent over 15 year’s as a diplomat to Malawi’s Mission in Zimbabwe.

Below are a few (not all) of the names submitted to the office of the President:

Bertrand Khanyizira – he has been approved to go to China as a Deputy Ambassador and prior to this he spent over 11 years in Malawi diplomatic service to France and then Belgium.

Faith Kazembe spent over 10 years in Germany and has been given a Deputy Ambassador post thus awaiting clearance to depart for the posting.

Chikubutso Kutengule has been approved to go to Switzerland as the Deputy Ambassador prior to this he was posted to China where he also gained his education.

Joseph Chikwemba –  People’s Party  (PP) loyal member and administrative secretary who served in Japan for several year’s has been proposed to go to Switzerland or Belgium.

Frederick Malire – was in Harare for 3 year’s another one of Joyce Banda’s people.

Ben M’bwana Phiri spent 8 year’s in Brazil.

Abels Mkandawire he was in Tanzania for 4 year’s and his wife is the niece of Ephraim Mganda Chiume the former Malawi Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mcdonald Mizati he spent over 12 year’s in India.

Catherine Zamaerere spent over 10 year’s in South Africa and Zimbabwe. She is close ally of Joyce Banda.

Memory Chibwana spent over 11 years in Belgium and Switzerland.

Chrissy Mahuka – Spent of 10 year’s in New.

Grace Karonga spent over 12 Years in Japan.

Hakim Lapukeni spent over 15 year’s in Egypt.

Hilaria Chibwana spent over 15 year’s in Taiwan and China.

John Kabaghe – was in Taiwan for 10 years he went to China.

Suzgo Mandala served in Zambia and South Africa for 12 years

Oliver Gondwe is said to be heading to the Malawi Mission to Switzerland

  • Postings already deployed:  

Clement Namangale – Deputy Ambassador to New York

Constance Sekani – Third Secretary to Zimbabwe

Rose Katuya – Third Secretary to South Africa (Pretoria)

Mathews Chisale – Third Secretary to Zambia (had already served 10 years in Harare)

Mercy Mwase – Third Secretary to Belgium

Rebecca Kalanje – Third Secretary to Mozambique (Maputo)

Stelia Salim – Third Secretary to Ethiopia

Margaret Malikhaya – Third Secretary to Tanzania

Veronica Chidothe – High Commissioner to Mozambique (Tete)

Jane Asani – spent over 10 years in New York and was posted earlier this year to Tete, Mozambique.

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Max Perekamoyo
2 years ago

My plea is simply don’t let politicians ruin your careers. Do your job as professionals we count on you.

If there is a chance for capable non career diplomats please rope them in. We need diversity and more expertise.

I also commend the government for recalling DPP diplomats. Their system must fall.

Richard Solobala
2 years ago

Inenso ndimafuna ntakhala diplomat ndili ndí degree ya International Relations, koma zoti nkafikire kukhala P0 muboma nkumzlandira K150000 zimenezo zokha ndimadana nazo.

Truth Only
Truth Only
2 years ago

AND WHERE IS BOWLER?

CheMussa
CheMussa
2 years ago

Only in Malawi do you pluck people from no where to become diplomats. Except perhaps for Ambassadors, the rest of the staff in Foreign Missions ought to be career diplomats. Ndizimene zimachitika mma iko onse omwe amapanga zinthu molongosoka. Osati munthu oyenda bawo kumutumiza ku embassy.

So they are not recycled diplomats. They are career diplomats. Uku sikwa anthu a campaign. Mkwama career diplomats. Tiphunzile kuchita ndikuvomeleza zinthu zolongosoka.

Psyuta
Psyuta
2 years ago
Reply to  CheMussa

Very true. Bvuto la mayufi ndi umbili.

Na Lero
Na Lero
2 years ago

Recycling these people is not employment creation. Malawi has so many educated and competent people, Malawi has hundreds of people that can work at embassies effectively and efficiently, you do not need to recycle people. Work at embassies is not rocket science. Ambassador is an administrator and a politician. And Malawi has plenty. Other posts are specialised posts in labour, immigration, trade, etc. Malawi has plenty of these. So don’t talk nonsense that these recycled are only people that can do the work. Did the PS & Minister check the list of those proposed by deployment committee before sending to… Read more »

Loveness Manda
2 years ago

Allow me to protect Francis Mponda

Don’t ever be fooled that he is a recycled diplomat. Very down to earth man. It’s a shame you can’t criticise him as a failed diplomat.

Talk of vibrant leadership, he is anchoring the Ministry right now. When the PS is away he is the one who handles affairs competently. In fact he deserves to be PS in Finance.

Zinazi tisamanamizane. Íne anga ndí awiri pamenepo, Makawa and Mponda.

Kalombo
2 years ago
Reply to  Loveness Manda

Tangonenani kuti anakudyani. Haaaaaa

braveheart
2 years ago

MCP supporters are a disgrace and never get ashamed.Can someone really be defending this? Where is the young educated blood out of the whole of Malawi?if these people have ever done anything tangible before why is Malawi still poorest country in the world when they have spent decades on international missions? Laughable.Sikusowa kolowela ndi kuchita uku? Try and error government.What a shame! Anyway u destroyed the country for this garbage! Enjoy!

Stephen
Stephen
2 years ago

I don’t know why a country as poor as Malawi needs to have so many embassadors at high costs all over the world like this. Many of these people have been Embassadors for over 10 years doing what? Easy job with soft hours while ife we’re working long jobs in the provate sector and paying high taxes on PAYE, Duty chani chani.

Kalonga Gawa undi
2 years ago
Reply to  Stephen

Sad my brother, sad

Benjones87
Benjones87
2 years ago

This issue is in total mess.

Chamunorwa
Chamunorwa
2 years ago
Reply to  Stephen

Its Ambassador not Embassador dummy. Embassy is the place where there are deployed to…

nafundo zalo
nafundo zalo
2 years ago
Reply to  Stephen

mkazi wa heley mussa. aglina. where henley musa could in a day wake up go to the office and ordered his secretary to buy a plane ticket for the following day journey to go visit aglina. just like that. kodi yokuba ma generator zinatha bwa. ndi sasamba ameneyuyu. Mw could have 2 to 3 embassies in Africa. france germany belgium could also have 1 only. we need people to work not ma party. over staffing encourage laziness. However potengera ndi corruption ya maboma a mbuyomu these staff were the ones to encourage investiment not taking 101 malawians to New York… Read more »

Genghis Khan
2 years ago

This is a non issue. Leaking this confidential memo for what? Most of these are career diplomats. I was with most of these at University and they joined Foreign Affairs long time ago. This is what we need, well trained diplomats. Don’t be jealous because they have been outside and you think it’s someone’s turn. Diplomacy is their job. No one has stopped you joining Foreign Affairs. Ineyo ndikufunirani kuyenda kwabwino, kaimilireni Malawi. Kaya ndinu a MCP, Kaya ndi PP Kaya UDF, tonse ndi a Malawi. Nsanje bwanji anthu ankhalwe inu?

Chiwoko
Chiwoko
2 years ago
Reply to  Genghis Khan

If the list is true, all I can say is I have lost confidence in Tonse Alliance. Will not get my vote next time and I will campaign against them to all my relations and friends. We need new young blood in these missions and not that many.

Cheyo Muyaya
Cheyo Muyaya
2 years ago

Can the author of this article put forward the indicators used to measure failure or success of Diplomats? Recycled means something was useless but has been revived (I gues the author does not imply that all those mentioned in the write-up failed but have started performing). My view is that when you assess and rate others you should be better than those you are assessing ( I doubt if the author is really better than all mentioned).

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